Serial number: 30972. This Steinway was manufactured in New York, in 1874. This magnificent Model D Concert Grand is 274 cm in length and 156 cm in width. This is the ‘pinnacle of concert grands’ in terms of quality with the additional grandeur of its refined details! We will be adding many more details about this piano as time allows.
The DE 944 Steinway Grand Pianoforte and stool is awaiting restoration.
Acquired during 2020, currently languishing in our workshop awaiting restoration, is this remarkable Steinway and Sons full size concert grand piano.
The serial number 30972 dates it to 1874.
It would have been built in the Steinway factory in New York, the only manufacturing branch of the Company at that time.
In practically original condition without replacement parts, this is an incredible find from Pretoria.
Apart from a “Square” Steinway in our possession and one older upright we looked at purchasing but didn’t because it lacked originality, this is the earliest Steinway we have seen in South Africa.
It is cased in Rosewood (now a protected species), with the Steinway music desk, unbelievably heavily carved legs and pedal lyre.
It’s truly a wonder to behold and is surely an important piece of history.
To think of who may have sat at this still all original ivory and ebony keyboard.
A piano like this would never have been anything ordinary.
To our surprise, it has 88 keys – we have seen later model Steinways with 85.
We presume this is so as it would have been built as a concert instrument.
A very special thought for Deon personally is that his Great Great Grandfather, who had a job at Steinway, New York from 1865, may well have had a hand in producing this very instrument or may in the least have laid eyes on it when brand new. A connection spanning
147 years! View Our Story page to read more about our family history.
We are loathe to over restore this piano and are currently weighing up exactly what should be done to make it a well playable, sound instrument.
The amazing benefit of a historic piano, within guidelines, is that one can use it as one would a modern instrument.
The action, even untouched, is responsive and tight; the tone produced is even and of a wonderful quality.
How lucky we are to be able to have found, purchased and soon be working on something like this. Very possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
