Shull Piano Inc

610 Amigos Dr., Redlands, CA  92373

909 796-4226

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Bill Shull, RPT     Catherine Lee, Manager

STEINWAY AND SONS 8’3” GRAND PIANO #2162 BUILT IN 1859 (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

THE EARLIEST KNOWN STEINWAY GRAND WITH ORIGINAL INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND ACTION

Elena Portnaya performs on Steinway 8’ 3”  #2162, playing a sampling of repertoire.   Recording made in February 2018

This is the most original condition of any known extant early Steinway grand.

Most early Steinway grands have had their action mechanisms replaced with modern Erard/Herz designs, most have been restrung and repinned;  this piano appears original in all these respects.  Note the oblong tuning pins (right).

Note the original hammers on the original Heinrich Steinway Jr. action. 

Steinway’s first pair of grand pianos were begun April 19, 1856.  For three years Steinway grand pianos were only flat-strung (“straight-strung”).  Some were assembled plates, others single piece cast iron.  On December 24, 1858, Steinway began construction of flat-strung Steinway #2162, and at the end of the year it began its first and revolutionary overstrung grand, #2207.*

You may request a brochure with more information,  a special presentation by early Steinway piano historian William Shull, a contextual study of early Steinway grands,  an examination of extant early Steinway pianos, and a study of the log or production books (number books), and a PDF of the Piano Technicians Guild article on #2162 by Mary Cooley Smith, “The Oldest Steinway”.  

You may arrange to visit the piano in San Antonio, Texas.

   Make all purchase inquiries to Mr. Shull at 909 796-4226.

Email to bdshull@aol.com

Buyer will also receive  the original letter from Steinway and Sons which gave the owner of this piano the “Oldest Steinway Grand Piano” Award. 

Sales outside of the U.S. are subject to the obtaining of a CITES certificate, which may result in a processing time for approval of paperwork verifying that the ivory keyboard is original.

Buyer assumes the responsibility for cartage.  Piano is in an accessible ground floor living room in San Antonio, Texas

Fallboard decal was made to represent the most likely original design and appearance based on our study of contemporary Steinway grands

*Sources for production information include the La Guardia and Wagner Steinway Archives, La Guardia Community College/City University of New York;  The Library of the National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C., and the unpublished research of William Shull, Loma Linda, CA.