George Steck & Company History

Established in 1857 by George Steck, the namesake George Steck piano company built an early reputation for fine instrumentation and piano quality. Originally from Cassel, Germany, George Steck set up shop on 12th Street and Third Avenue in New York. Nearly two years later in 1859, he moved the company to Walker Street, where it remained until 1904 when Steck passed away and the company was incorporated and purchased by the Aeolian Company. [1]

Known by many as “Steck” pianos once Aeolian took over production, the George Steck piano brand remained intact until becoming part of the Mason & Hamlin Corporation in 1994. A series of acquisitions have characterized the brand’s history throughout the early 1990s and 2000s. Manufactured by a Chinese group, Nanjing Moutrie Piano Co., and distributed by Welkin Sound Inc., in Canada up until 2015, George Steck pianos are no longer produced today. [2]

George Steck Piano Innovations 

When George Steck founded the company, he envisioned the many advancements he could make to pianos. By the 1890s, Steck was introducing upright and grand pianos to his product line and moving away from the strictly square grand pianos. Obsessed with the science of sound, Steck made many changes to early piano design that can be identified on both the upright and grand pianos found today. [3]

The reputation that Steck built for his pianos has stood the test of time. Known for the precision of instrumentation and high-quality sound, George Steck pianos have often been endorsed by the world’s most renowned pianists and remain a valuable instrument when restored accurately. 

Once the Aeolian and Aeolian American Corporation began production of the brand, the Steck Pianola rose to extreme popularity and remains one of the most likely player pianos to be found in Europe. [4] The Steck Pianola is a unique hybrid of the Steck piano frame and the Pianola action. [5]

Restoring a Steck Piano

Lindeblad has had the privilege of restoring many early George Steck & Company pianos. For some of the earlier models, when Steck was known for his innovations and improvements, the unrestored value can range between $500-1,000. However, when restored with historical accuracy as a primary consideration, pianos can be worth up to $20,000.

Are you looking for a Steck piano? At Lindeblad, we restore and repair high-end pianos from the early 1900s.

Contact us today to learn more!

References: 

[1] Pierce, W. Robert. Pierce Piano Atlas: Anniversary Edition, 2017 Our 70th Year. Albuquerque: Ashley, 2017. Print.

[2] http://www.concertpitchpiano.com/George-Steck-Piano-Prices.html 

[3] http://www.total-piano-care.com/george-steck-pianos.html 

[4] http://www.pianola.org/history/history_playerpianos.cfm

[5] http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/agess.htm