Furthermore, the style to which each number referred changed from year to year, and so the numbers cannot be relied upon for identification. These early style numbers, however, referred to both differences in scale design and differences in furniture styling. In that year Steinway began to assign style numbers to some of their pianos and by 1866 each piano was designated in this way. Until 1859 piano styles were identified by name (plain, fancy, double round, middle round, prime, and so on). Steinway & Sons piano manufacture officially began on March 5, 1853, but the first illustrated catalog did not appear until 1865. Also, a given model may have been manufactured or sold in limited quantities after the time it was officially discontinued. Because most of the dates listed here are from catalogs, whereas the serial numbers are from production records, dates and serial numbers may not match each other exactly, and dates may differ by a year or more from other versions of this list in circulation.

The keyboard compass (range) began at seven octaves (eighty-five notes, AAA to a””, unless otherwise indicated) and was gradually expanded to seven and a quarter octaves (eighty-eight notes, AAA to c””‘). This list is based on the best available information to date, but should not be considered infallible. Hence, some details are elusive, especially concerning pianos built during the first twenty-five years of manufacture.

During the formative years of Steinway & Sons, an immense amount of experimentation and development was in progress. There are no listings here of the different furniture styles available in each model, or of custom cases or experimental variations that were made from time to time. Note that entries in the list refer to models in regular stock manufacture only, as they appeared in catalogs and price lists. (Square pianos and other pianos made before about 1880 are listed for academic purposes only see pages 173–174 for information on buying square and antique pianos.) Hopefully, piano technicians and historians will also find the list useful.

As an aid to those buying a used Steinway, I have listed below all models of Steinway pianos made in New York City since the firm’s inception in 1853.* Since this list has never before been published, I have, for the record, given a much more complete list than most piano buyers will ever need.

Piano serial number list