Thread: Making a Steinway - ABC tonight

Thanks for the heads-up kiwigeo - that was just awesome

Cheers,
Geoff

That was great.....funny feeling that the dumbest people on the show were the bloody Piano Players.
The woodies & Techs were fantastic.

I agree watson, the craftsman knew their craft completely but that last pianist at Carnegie Hall...I was waiting for the Steinway bloke to push his face into the keys and shout "JUST PICK ONE YOU IDIOT"

He didn't realize the one he picked was the same one he tried before he went away.

Wow, that was an awesome show.

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

I know none of you shredders have plans to build a grand piano but if you want to broaden your horizons and give your shredding hand a rest sit down in front of ABC 2 tonight (Sunday 21/6) at 8.30 and watch the boys at Steinway put together a grand piano.

Cheers Martin

Thanks for that Martin, it was a delight to watch the creation and vibrancy come to life. All the input from so many and if one person did not do their job properly then everyone else down the line were wasting their time. Lot of good life lessons in that one.

Once more good on ya for sharing the info.

Damn thats a great looking ABC programme, pity it was so short & do you ever notice,, doesnt matter what instrument you see getting built they never quite cover the part/s you are interested in finding out about. LOL

A journo has written a book on the history of Steinway and the making of their grands. I'll dig it out if anyone wants the title.

How is it that such a young country, supposedly with no culture to speak of, can train craftsmen to make world class musical instruments??
Yes, I know the Steinway is not Aussie, but the late lamented Beale pianos and pianolas were "up there", and, according to my piano tuner, STILL have the best string tensioning system.
I must admit to a family bias here, as my Great, great Granddaddy, Octavious Beale, started the company.It has long ago gone off shore,to, I think, Korea.
I also know a couple of internationally regarded guirarists who have access to the best guitar makers world-wide, but prefer the tonal qualities and feel of those instruments made by craftsmen largely unheralded in their home country.Tall poppies??!!

And we have the unique piano string system where the string when struck vibrates up and down rather than the conventional where it starts that way and then moves into oscillation.

There is a company in Newcastle Australia making Piano's.
Stuart & Sons trades under the name, Piano Australia.

Thanks for the heads up a good sales pitched show (pun intended)

I am sorry I missed the 1st 15 mins

Craftsmen sorry guys as many of those fella's said themselves they started in one area and worked their way up or into doing what they were at time of filming I agree they all had the passion. Even one of the execs said they have to go into the streets to find cabinet makers who are few on the ground and train those they can into positions which can take as one of those fella's said 10 years.

I was disappointed that they didn't reflect more on the craftsmanship and hand tool use, I had to laugh when the woman was free hand drilling holes no jigs etc, then the one with the di-grinder shaping internal for the frame to sit in.

Was there anything regarding making the actual parts such as the hammers keys wood used??? I am sure I heard pine mentioned