Steinway NY Re-Introduces the O (to replace the L)

Horace Greeley hgreeley@stanford.edu
Wed, 22 Feb 2006 14:07:48 -0800


Avery,

At 01:48 PM 2/22/2006, Avery wrote:
>Cy,
>
>I thought the 'L' replaced the old 'O'. Why are they now bringing 
>back the 'O'? Just curious. Also, why are they bringing back the 
>'A'? It's hard to believe that Steinway is admitting they made a mistake!!! :-)

They're not admitting a mistake.  It has strictly to do with 
marketing.  After all, Rolls Royce has never had a broken axle.

Best.

Horace


>Avery Todd
>
>At 08:12 PM 2/19/2006, you wrote:
>>http://www.steinway.com/features/MainFeature_SteinwayO.shtml
>>
>>Steinway & Sons New York Re-Introduces The Steinway Model O
>>
>>
>>In 1902, the Model O was first produced by the Steinway & Sons New 
>>York factory and introduced to the American consumer market as the 
>>"Miniature" Steinway grand piano. It was the Model O that was the 
>>first Steinway grand piano to feature the classic Steinway case 
>>design known as Sketch 380 Sheraton (squared off, spade-shaped 
>>legs) designed by Eugene F. Ayuso, now the standard case design for 
>>all Steinway grand models.
>>
>>When the Model O grand was a brand new scale, it reflected several 
>>major new technical innovations with its unprecedented 
>>incorporation of 26 notes in the bass section. The plate design did 
>>not incorporate adjustable rear duplexes, but had instead solid 
>>duplex ribs cast in the plate. Examination of early Model O grands 
>>reveals that Henry Ziegler who designed this model conducted many 
>>experiments and made several adjustments in features and layout. In 
>>1902 and again in 1904, New York factory log book entries for Model 
>>O grands say, "Model A shape" (i.e., square tail instead of 
>>standard Model O round tail). These few early experimental Model O 
>>grands with square tails might well be considered to be the 
>>earliest predecessors of the Model L grand.
>>
>>As mentioned, Henry Ziegler (1857-1930) designed and invented the 
>>Model O. He also designed and invented the Models M (1912) and L 
>>(1923), both of which are based on the original Model O design and 
>>scale. The Model M (5'7") is a slightly shorter version of the 
>>Model O. The Model L is essentially the same scale as the Model O 
>>but with a square tail, rather than round. The Model S (5'1"), 
>>which was introduced in 1936, is also based on the Model O design and scale.
>>
>>In 1906, the Model O bass bridge was changed from straight to 
>>curved, and the plate was reconfigured to accommodate adjustable 
>>rear duplex scales.
>>
>>In 1914, the length of the Model O was increased slightly by 1/2" 
>>from 5'10" to 5'10-1/2". On November 7, 1924, the last of these 
>>historic Model O grands were produced in New York.
>>
>>Now in 2006, the Steinway & Sons New York factory has announced 
>>that it will return to the production of the original fully 
>>developed version of the Model O grand with its characteristic 
>>round tail, curved bass bridge, and rear duplex scales as perfected 
>>in his time by Henry Ziegler-but with all of the modern technical 
>>innovations that have followed: Accelerated Action (1931), 
>>Diaphragmatic soundboard (1936), Hexagrip Wrestplank (1963), 
>>Permafree II Action Bushings (1983), and NY Improved Action (1992) 
>>to name a few.
>>
>>The reintroduction of the Steinway Model O grand piano is intended 
>>to replace the similarly sized Steinway Model L grand. The Model O 
>>will now be produced in both the Steinway & Sons New York and 
>>Hamburg factories.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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