Crafting a Steinway Piano Begins with the Case
The sleek curved shape of the rim is a distinctive feature of any Steinway & Sons grand piano. The intricate parts of the action, the cast iron plate, hundreds of strings, the soundboard, bridges, pins, and much more are all contained within the instrument’s elegant cabinet/case. Attractive and functional, the piano’s rim or cabinet serves as an essential acoustic and structural component.
Shaped from multiple laminations of premium hard rock maple, the art of ‘rim bending’ is one that Steinway has perfected over a century of craftsmanship. A rim must be able to withstand the thousands of pounds of tension placed upon it and it must hold its shape over decades of use.
Shaping the Rim
Early Steinway & Sons pianos utilized a sectional case design. Multiple pieces were held together with joints to create a single case. It wasn’t until C.F. Theodore Steinway developed a patented a new rim bending method in 1878, that Steinway cases were done in a single, continuous piece. This inventive method is still used by the Steinway factory today and has become standard throughout the piano industry.
Measuring 3/16 of an inch thick, each lamination is positioned so the grain runs horizontally. This is said to greatly enhance the piano’s tonal projection. The larger the piano, the more laminations. A small Model S utilizes 12 while the flagship Model D features 18. These 12-18 layers (depending on the model) not only allow a stable shaping of the case but give it enough density to reflect the sound back through the soundboard and not absorb it. It also gives the case more sturdiness and strength than a single, thicker layer of wood could provide.
Craftsmen forcefully yet precisely bend the hardwood into the gentle S-curved rim. Steinway case molds are unique and are specially designed and built by the company. Each sheet of wood is pressed around the mold, glued, and then clamped down into place. Layer after layer is applied in this way until the desired thickness is reached. The result is a single-piece inner and outer rim. After the rims are removed from the presses they are placed in a conditioning room. This allows them to settle after the shock of being bent. They remain in the room for between 10 to 16 weeks. A veneer is then applied to give the cabinet its lustrous wood grain. Although not as common on new pianos today, many vintage Steinways were then adorned with beautiful carvings and other art case details. [Learn more about Steinway Art Case Grand Pianos.]
Inner Rim | Steinway Model A-3
Strength and Durability
The rim is the primary structural component of any grand piano. Every other piece is connected in some way the case. The pinblock is fit and glued directly into the case. The cast iron plate is bolted to it. Even the action relies on the stability of the cabinet’s keybed. In some ways, it can be compared to the chassis of your car – if you don’t have a solid chassis, it’ll bend and break from the immense pressure. Underneath a Steinway Grand Piano, there are numerous supporting wooden beams. In less expensive grand pianos you’ll see fewer beams – perhaps only one, or even none. These support beams are critical for maintaining the integrity of the rim and the piano as a whole. Mason & Hamlin, another leading piano builder installs a metal spider system named the ‘Tension Resonator’ to further reinforce the rim.
Quality Piano Restoration
Ebonized Cabinet | Steinway Model L
Many people are attracted to the superb craftsmanship of vintage Steinway Grand Pianos. Instruments built during the Pre-WWII era are considered to be of the ‘golden era’ of Steinway & Sons Factory craftsmanship. It is only proper that these historic pianos are restored by piano rebuilders who understand the proper methods of piano remanufacturing. If Chupp’s Piano Technicians need to replace a pinblock or soundboard, they understand how to precisely fit it to the case – because we understand the exquisite minor differences between each Steinway cabinet and the features that make each Steinway piano a unique work of art. For more information about quality vintage pianos and expert restoration, contact Chupps Pianos.
Chupp’s Piano Service | Restored Steinway Pianos | New Kawai | Premium Piano Service