Henry E. Steinway

Pianos, New York. Steinway, a German cabinet-maker who emigrated with his sons, founded Steinway and Sons in Manhattan in 1853 and combined hand-building with patented engineering, such as overstrung bass strings and a cast-iron frame. Prize-winning instruments and endorsements by concert pianists built its reputation. Steinway still builds its grand pianos largely by hand, taking around a year for each one.