Steinway & Sons reopens historic Astoria
piano factory following COVID-19 closure
SAME SERVICE
AVAILABLE
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
SEE OUR AD IN THE SUNDAY POST
ASK FOR CHRISTOPHER
WILL TRAVEL. WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
1029 WEST JERICHO TURNPIKE, SMITHTOWN
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 31-AUG. 6, 2020 11
BY BILL PARRY
Steinway & Sons announced that
its historic Astoria factory is fully reopened
and once again producing the
world’s finest pianos.
After a partial opening earlier
in July with nearly 20 percent of its
workforce, the company has gradually
welcomed back its full complement
of more than 200 artisans, along with
managers, foremen, engineers and
other employees supporting Steinway’s
manufacturing process.
After its 1853 founding in Manhattan
and multiple New York City expansions,
Steinway & Sons purchased
the land where the Astoria factory
has stood for more than 150 years. It
opened the factory soon afterward. Piano
production has continued on this
site, mostly unabated, through the
1918 Spanish flu pandemic, two World
Wars and the Great Depression.
During World War II, the factory
was used to build gliders as part of the
U.S. war effort as well as special “Victory
Vertical” pianos that provided
live music to troops on the front lines.
“Our company is more than 167
years old, and we have faced many
unique challenges since our founding,”
Steinway & Sons President and
CEO Ron Losby said. “While today’s
pandemic is unprecedented in many
ways, I have no doubt that we will rise
to the occasion once again as we continue
to provide our precision-crafted
pianos to artists, institutions and
those who love music. In these times,
the power of music to heal and bring
us together is needed even more.”
During the factory downtime,
extensive measures were taken to
ensure a safe work environment
for returning workers. Among the
many changes Steinway’s workers
encountered upon their return to
work were temperature checks upon
entry; health screenings; companyprovided
face masks; staggered shifts
and breaks; numerous new hand sanitizer
stations and rigorous cleaning
schedules; and a new layout in some
areas to ensure adequate distancing
between workers.
“While we are a very traditional
company, one of our most important
traditions is constantly improving
our manufacturing facilities and processes,
and in turn improving the pianos
that we produce,” Steinway & Sons
Vice President of Manufacturing Stephen
Emmerth said. “So integrating
these changes happened naturally,
and we’re now not only building the
best Steinways we’ve ever built, we’re
doing so in the safest factory environment
we’ve ever had.”
The Steinway factory was closed
for nearly four months.
“It’s very difficult to lose almost
one-third of our production for the
year. Building a Steinway is a laborintensive
process that can’t be sped
up,” Losby said. “We were actually
surprised with the level of sales we
saw during this pandemic. If the demand
for Steinways this fall is typical
of other years, we will likely run out
of pianos, so we are very hopeful that
our factory will be able to continue at
full production. However, the safety
of our artisans is our number one priority.
If at any point we feel there is
a safety issue, we will take whatever
steps are necessary to remediate that
issue, up to and including another
factory shutdown.”
As another casualty of the COVID-
19 pandemic, many piano festivals
and competitions that were set to take
place this summer and beyond have
been canceled or postponed. As a result,
Steinway has a large inventory
of almost-new, competition approved
pianos for sale to the general public at
a discount through the end of July.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
After a four-month COVID-19 shutdown, Steinway & Sons reopens it world-famous
piano factory in Astoria. Courtesy of Steinway &Sons
ANTIQUE & ESTATE BUYERS
We buy anything old. One piece or house full.
WILL TRAVEL. HOUSE CALLS. WILL TRAVEL
ENTIRE
TRI-STATE!
TOP $ PAID
FOR JUDAICA
COLLECTIBLES
HOUSE
CALLS
SAME DAY
SERVICE
AVAILABLE
WILL TRAVEL. WE HOUSE CALLS.
1029 WEST JERICHO TURNPIKE, SMITHTOWN, L.I.
HOUSE
CALLS
SERVING QUEENS
AND THE ENTIRE
TRI-STATE AREA
WE PAY $ CASH $ FOR
ALL GOLD, GOLD & STERLING SILVER
COSTUME JEWELRY, ALL COINS, PAPER
MONEY & STAMP COLLECTIONS
ALL GOLD...BROKEN OR NOT
PRE- 1960 FURNITURE, CLOCKS WATCHES (WORKING OR NOT)
TIFFANY, BACCARAT, LALIQUE
FREE
Estimate
The List is Endless
YERS
MILITARY
Collections Wanted
Swords, Knives,
Helmets, etc.
www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
for Antique
W
Q
&
/QNS.COM
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
link
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
link