Pianotech

  • 1.  Steinway vs Lyon & Healy

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-03-2025 11:34

    Customer has a Steinway O, sn 149770, yr 1911, all this according to Pierce based on what I found on the plate. However, this is the fallboard decal...

    Looking up Steinway I find no mention of Lyon & Healy. Looking up Lyon & Healy I find no mention of Steinway. Both according to Pierce. I did find, elsewhere, that Steinway bought Lyon & Healy in the 1970's, which is way after this piano was manufactured. I also found that Everett was involved at some point and that Lyon & Healy is now in the harp business. Customer purchased the piano in the '70s, in Montreal, and had it "rebuilt" in the '90s by somebody in Northern Vermont. She did not like the results. Brought it to California in 2016.

    So, just out of curiosity, anyone here know what this piano actually is? 



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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 2.  RE: Steinway vs Lyon & Healy

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-03-2025 12:28

    Geoff,

    I'm pretty sure that Lyon & Healy (Harps and pianos) was the sole SS dealership in Chicago for many years, perhaps all the way back to early days of SS. Then L&H was bought by SS in the 70s under CBS. They let L&H concentrate on harps and forget about pianos. I don't know if there is still any affiliation anymore. 

    So that decal I bet is an "addition" to the SS decal, much the same as the Sherman Clay dealerships out on the west coast. 

    That's my guess.

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 3.  RE: Steinway vs Lyon & Healy

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-04-2025 10:27
    I'm with Peter. I visited the Lyon & Healy showroom in Chicago in the late 70s. They displayed both Lyon & Healy harps and S&S pianos.

    Bob Anderson
    Tucson, AZ



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Steinway vs Lyon & Healy

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-03-2025 12:43
    Geoff

    I concur with what Peter said. L&H was the biggest and most influential music store in downtown Chicago in the late 1800 all the way through the 1970’s. They also made harps. This decal was specifically made for the pianos sold out of that store.

    Wim

    W
    Sent from my iPhone




  • 5.  RE: Steinway vs Lyon & Healy

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-03-2025 13:20

    Hi Geoff,

    You can always contact Steinway directly for any serial number lookup and we will share the info we have.

    In this case, Steinway's record books indicate that this piano is a Model O in Mahogany finish (case number O942) manufactured 12/27/1911, and shipped directly to Lyon & Healy in Chicago Illinois.

    The "Lyon & Healy Factors" logo looks like it was added by Lyon & Healy



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    Daniel DeBiasio
    Technical Education & Support
    ddebiasio@steinway.com
    718-267-3229
    Steinway & Sons
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  • 6.  RE: Steinway vs Lyon & Healy

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-03-2025 23:40

    Thanks for the reply's, everyone. This all makes perfect sense. 



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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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