Charles Stieff

Charles M. Stieff was a 19th-century American industrialist and piano manufacturer, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Although his company went out of business in 1951, Stieff pianos are still highly regarded. They are often referred to as "The poor man's Steinway"^[1]

Biography

Charles Maximilian Stieff was born in Württemberg on July 19, 1805 and was educated at Stuttgart. In 1831 he emigrated to America and settled at Baltimore, where he took a chair in Haspart's school as professor of languages and also acted as leader of a church choir. In 1842 he imported his first pianos from Germany, and opened piano warerooms on Liberty Street in 1843. Observing the success of the various piano manufacturers in Baltimore, Stieff undertook an extensive trip to Europe in 1852, studying the methods of the best piano manufacturers there. Upon his return he admitted his sons into partnership and started the manufacture of the "Stieff" piano, entrusting the management of the factory to Jacob Gross, an expert piano maker of the old school. On Christmas Day, 1860 Gross married Catharina Christiana Stieff (1833–1906), Charles' daughter. His joining the Stieff family business was an excellent combination. The firm's product was accepted as of superior merit and received distinguished awards wherever exhibited.

His company's later years

After Stieff's death, Jan. 1, 1862,^[2] the business was carried on successfully by his sons, Charles and Frederick P. Stieff; the technical management of the factories being in the hands of Charles J. Gross, who was taught by his father, Jacob Gross. The factory narrowly escaped destruction during the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 when the fire stopped just short of the factory's walls. The firm distributed its products almost entirely through its own stores, which were found in every prominent city of the southern States, as well as at Boston and elsewhere. The company ceased business in 1951.^[3]

The Stieff piano company was not associated with Stieff Silver, makers of sterling silver and pewter products, which was founded by Charles C. Stieff (Charles M.'s grandson) and operated in Baltimore from 1892-1999.

References

1. Antique Piano Shop
2. findagrave.com
3. Pierce Piano Atlas 12th ed

Sources

This article is adapted from Pianos and Their Makers: a Comprehensive History of the Development of the Piano from the Monochord to the Concert Grand Player Piano, by Alfred Dolge, published in 1911 by Covina Co.