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I don't know. It just sounds wonderful. So much more mellow than modern NY Steinways. I almost don't want it to be restored.

James, The signature is Theodore E. Steinway who was president of Steinway & Sons in the 1930s. I sent a screenshot to Steinway & Sons and that is what they told me.

My grandfather, Burton J Neill, invented that action. I have the patent papers. He lived on Lake Merritt and his piano had half the old action, half his invention. My uncle got that piano.

Such an accomplished mature musician! My father bought a Steinway after graduating from MIT in 1937 because he wanted to have proper social environment to entertain as he thought appropriate for a young professional. He designed an elegant living room with all the furniture and the crowning touch was a used Steinway model A grand piano (built in 1901, 116yrs old). He did not play. He played clarinet in high school and violin at MIT. He played "like a mechanical engineer", not well. He loved music, however. The piano stayed in our family until we sold it 2017. A professional studio recordist needed a piano upgrade for his recording studio clients. My mother was an honor choral/piano grad from Northwestern University back in the 1930's. At one of her juries the the professors actually applauded. Unheard of back then. They had it rebuilt in 1960. My sister's (one of my sisters graduated, having won a full tuition harp scholarship, from the Eastman School of Music) and I all took lessons (not from our mother, she was too smart to do that). My last work was learned as a high school junior, 1st mvt. of the Greig Piano Concerto. Then I went to the dark side. I'd also had started the clarinet in 4th grade and that's where my passion lay. I've taught clarinet and sax for 40yrs (mostly retired now). When the eventual purchaser came over to "audition" the piano (an amateur dabbler) he brought with him a professional tuner/rebuilder to get his opinion. OMG, this guy could PLAY! Classical, jazz, you name it! Everyone was astounded! It hadn't really been played for 25yrs. It sounded as if it were brand new and mature at the same time. Literally on perfect condition, excellent one piece ivory key tops, beautiful turn of the century carved voluptuous legs, carved pedal support. They did the action rapid repetitive, looked at each other... the felts responded perfectly. The purchaser ask his friend if he had brought the "hammer"? I'm thinking, now what? It played in excellent tune. Just one note needed a little adjustment. I over heard him say, "I'm buying this piano. And he did! That's my little story, I apologize for it being so long!

Incredible instrument. It bothers me when people complain about how Steinway is over rated or over marketed etc. There are countless Steinways floating around from many years ago that could easily take their place on the concert stage today. Their tone and their action are really on another level.

The Steinway has a voice like no other piano this 1936D is well worth the money to restore it. It's history and a work of art all in one.

I will always have a soft spot for the big Steinway. My 2nd piano teacher had a 9', D in her little living room. Her Piano stretched from the living room window sill, through the arche an into the Dining room. Her bookshelves filled with Concert piano works from all over the world. She could sit down and play anything at sight. But i will never get over the sound of the big D. It could show up your glory as a player , or.. as starting out as i was, how horrible too. It was what it was. 1942 was the yr it was built. I think too, maybe the same yr and model as Nat king Coles Steinway, which now is in Capitol Studio A in LA. Phenomenal Instruments !

That is an amazing piano for its age. Very lyrical, a great example of why Steinway has such a lofty reputation. Hope they preserve the autograph.

This could be the one Rachmaninov actually laid his hands on...

The piano has a wonderful sound, and you gave a terrific performance on it! Thank you!

This is just heaven to listen to! Easily one of the most beautiful Steinways I have ever heard. Magnificent playing, thank you!

Fantasy Impromptu sounds like an old recording from the 30s or 40s.

You played that piece so amazingly well. Chopin would be proud.

I was not expecting the extraordinary playing. Fantastic.

Even unrestored, the tone of the piano as you played the Chopin piece was stunning.

Man, this piano sounds absolutely incredible

I know a piano restorer here in Madison, Wisconsin who would replace the iron wrapped strings (Alexander was right) with authentic replacements from England. The core wire is steel, yes but those grey looking strings are wrapped with iron. There is no USA maker for those but apparently there is one in England. There was a reason for the choice of an iron wrapping in the day. They had a mellower sound than copper. The problem is that they tended to go dead and tubby sounding a lot sooner than copper wrapped strings. There is, in fact, a way to rejuvenate the sound from either iron or copper wrapped strings if the problem with them is simply the old age patina that naturally forms on them. Wrapped strings can be damaged in other ways that ruin them beyond any effort to restore or rejuvenate them such as virtually any liquid spilled on them or aerosolized kitchen grease contaminating them over time. That being said, the natural patina that forms over time will make otherwise good wrapped strings lose their original liveliness. They can be polished with a high speed wire wheel. This will dig out the crustiness and restore the sound to like new or nearly so. It always improves them, no matter what. If the idea were to preserve as much of the original character of this piano as possible for as long as possible, particularly for a museum, that would be the way to go. That is, by the way, what is known as a "museum restoration". Change or replace as little as possible. Only clean, adjust and repair what is necessary. If the hammers are completely worn out, they have to be replaced but it will always be difficult to find new hammers that will produce the same sound as the originals. Some technicians can replace only the felt of worn out hammers and leave the rest of the original (but that would be very difficult to get the same sound as the original by doing that). The plain wire can also be polished. It will also have a patina and the sound can also be improved by polishing off the old patina so that the steel strings shine brightly again. There will be an improvement in sound but it is not as much nor as dramatic as it is with the wrapped strings. I agree with ThePianoForever on the soundboard. It has its own character that can never be duplicated. Sure, another good soundboard can be put in the piano and the piano can end up sounding really great but it will never be the same as what was there originally. Unfortunately, the same would be true even if the Steinway factory did the replacement in their own factory. The reason for wanting to replace the soundboard is that the original cannot be expected to last another lifetime beyond what it already has. If the piano were merely restrung, one might be quite disappointed after another 25 years that the soundboard has begun to develop cracks, lost its crown and resonance. Restringing and refinishing, etc. can be somewhat traumatic to such an old soundboard. It sounds good now but restringing it may actually precipitate deterioration. Every one of these types of pianos has to be evaluated individually and the owner has to make decisions in consultation with the restorer, weighing benefits, costs and consequences. In this case, I tend to agree with ThePianoForever that the better choice for this piano, at least for the short term, would be only to recondition it. Polish the strings! The action can also be overhauled without having to replace much of it. The cast iron plate can also be polished to the point where it looks brand new and so can the soundboard. The case finish can also be rejuvenated without redoing it. The damage on the fallboard can be carefully concealed by a person who knows how to do that kind of specialized work.

The same piano had as a child at home.I have a photo left when I stand beside pianos in the living room. Tank you! Love the sound.

That was beautiful! There's a calmness in how you play. There was something peaceful about it. Thx

That was amazing... close your eyes and you'd swear he's much older. Well done and keep tickling the ivories... or something to that effect.

Beat up pianos with a little age can be some of the best pianos.

It does sound wonderful and so does your playing. Thank you.

Just stumbled on to this video - cool piece of 20th century history - still sort of collapses my mind to think that someone can keep such music in their head and translate it to the physical world from memory. Very nice, thanks for the video.

I'm lucky to play an unrestored 1929 Steinway M, and even though it doesn't compare in size to the instrument in the video, the look and feel are both there. It's difficult to convey the perfection of this era of piano making. One has to play an instrument to know. An excellent video, the pianist is passionate and understands the value and brilliance of the Golden Era.

Mmmmm that Fantasie Impromptu got me in the feels

This piano has an incredible soul.

Wow Oh I just loved your performance. You are an amazing guy. I have never heard this composition all the way through. I don't play classical cos I play by ear. However at the end of the day you are AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY DAY!!!! HUGS>

Ok, so, WOW! My great aunt(born 1901) was a concert-level pianist in New York who played Never publicly but, rarely, privately for collections of friends and admirers. She had the same iteration of Steinway piano concert'-grand in her Sutton Place apartment. That piano that you have plsyed brought back memories that caused tears in my eyes, your pauses in your rendering were literally perfect (as may be), the sound in all respects as I remember. That piano should be respected in EVERY way in its restoration, It comes as close to perfection in my view as any in my exoerience, which is substantial. Thank you for the gift of a performance of Chopin that was as wonderfully non-artificially 'inflated' as most contemporary oerformances I have heard tend towatd being. - Arthur Powers, Denver

Sounds really wonderful! Thanks again James 😃

That signature is 100% certainly Theodore Steinway. :) hopefully it is also 100% authentic.

Love your passion for pianos and your beautiful playing!

Bro, you are so knowledgable and a bad ass player! Thanks for the videos man. I have learned A LOT.

Wow fantastic playing

I just picked me up a beautiful 1948 S Series steinway I will be setting it up tomorrow! So exciting!

My goodness man why aren't you on stage?

That was beautiful brother James, I love classical, I'm a musician also, and I've always loved Steinways. Keyboards, bass and vocals I've been doing this for 45 years now, and I love it. 😁 I'm very impressed with your playing. 😉👍. 🎼🎵🎶🎸

Thanks for sharing and playing for us .

Love young men with talent and passion.

I've play that piano too, while it was in the shop there... and absolutely agree! Such a tremendous piano even just as it was, without restoration! What a trajedy to hear what ended up happening with it! Wish Matteo and his crew could have done the restoration on it, they do nice work!

I must confess a secret....I have a really big crush on the piano as instrument. One of the best days in my life was when I could play on a Steinway in Dresden for a few minutes. Back home in Cape Town I have a real cheap Hoffman upright but love playing it

That looks like the signature of Theodore Edwin Steinway, who died in 1957. The 'd' in Theodore has a shortened stem. It's far more legible than some I've had to decipher over the years!

Loved it!! Great playing!

Great video. Love your enthusiasm.

I love hearing you play how blessed you are

Absolutely Theadore Steinway!!! Great video, love the sound of this instrument! 👍

Really enjoyed the vid james

I was really enjoying the video just hearing this guy talk about the piano but once he started playing, he just blew my mind that was fantastic!

Excellent playing. Beautiful and thoughtful phrasing.

When you buy a Steinway, Bosendorfer or Bechstein....You buy a "peace of ART". It's NEVER wasted money. They might cost you a fortuin but the money is always WORTH. Unless you can't play. If you can NOT play....learn to play the piano and you will have DOUBLE FUN.

thanks for your tutorial you are excellent .... superb playing this piece

my man this was a treat! your version with the slight tweaks is better than the one on my ipod

You are a gifted young man!

absolutely lovely sound for such an old piano.

I enjoy your videos, it's very original initiative and your vast knowledge base is impressive. having said that, I've heard so many videos of you playing the Chopin Impromptu yet this one is the most touching recording and the sound of this piano is just so warm that it hurts.

Great Sound from this old piano.

Beautifully played.

My mother used to play that. I'm cryin'

Sounds amazing, I love ur music!

you are clearly passionate and skilled. Subbed!

Thank you ... loved hearing this.

Your playing is superb

James, this 1936 steinway model L is lovely. Tell them not to restore it at all. Good job on fantasia impromptu. You're a great guy.

Beautiful.

Beautiful playing.

Well played!

oh my holly god your piano playing wonderful

Wow dude. I wish I was talented enough to play that as beautifully as you just did.

You are an absolutely phenomenal pianist..

Love the performance

1. Amazing playing! Amazing. 2. I'm really picky, and maybe its a combination of your precise touch as well, but this old girl would not be restored for my money! Regulated and rehammered/refelted if necessary, but that old girl sounds amazing. I am a Steinway fan of that era.... I almost bought a '38 (not a Model D though!)

My understanding is that Steinway has improved its' production processes in NYC and is now more aligned with the wonderful Steinway Hamburg production. BTW, I love it when you play. The songs are beautiful. Thanks!

Mullet = Talent

wow!!! thank you so much.

I really like this. Thanks for all your practice and playing for us who do not play.

I don't think I've ever been in the same building as a Steinway D, let alone play one. By the way, never thought I'd ever see you without a leather jacket! :D

I hope this is your future be it with an orchestra or a soloist. You really are good enough. 10/10 🎶

I get that you love the ivories on the piano. I didn't know much about their advantages, so that was interesting. But lets be glad we can still see them on their original owners. :)

Beautiful

Sounds wonderful ...as is !

👍 phantastic piano, phantastic pianoplayer 🎹🎶

I just found this channel and love what you are doing. Great music. The Piano Forte is my favorite instrument. The pipe organ is a very close second. Thanks. Now I need to Google your name because I do not know who you are. Again I love the music.

Nice playing James and thanks for sharing,I thing that name on the piano looks like Thomas Steinway.

In 1937 Henry Z Steinway joined the company after graduating from Harward and had a habit of signing custom build or special pianos. I don't know if this was a way to carry on Theodores habit of signing pianos, but it is interesting.

I live in a condo, have a spinet upright, but still dream of a grand, especially an old one. Played Steinway's back in the late 70s at Cornish in Seattle and Gonzaga in Spokane. But my all time favorite was a Bosendorfer 6 foot grand I played a lot in recording sessions in the late 60s early 70s in Sumner, Washington here in the Pacific Northwest. It's feel, warm tone and responsiveness still call out to me.

Very cool 🤩🤩🤩

your re iew is awesome..and you play very awesome... love your playing bro in that steinweiy

Great information. Phenomenal, impromptu with domineering playabilty in humble, fun energy. I subscribed. It seems to me, as far as taste, the steel strings give off a classic, vintage warmth, where maybe, depending, copper makes some pieces a little too bright. Great share!

Wow. Sooooooooooooooo organic. Lovely.

Hammers were changed in the late nineties or early 2000's....Renner Blues.. I was there when Allan played it. You can check on the Renner blues as I am frequently at DC.

Jaw dropping!!! I'm so jealous of you! And what a great instrument.

Cool video!

It really has that amazing vintage sound! Bravo! Will be checking this out next time I'm in Cali :-)

Very nice, piano, playing , and song selection. Fantasie impromptu song reminds me of funny bit on sitcom, taxi :-)

I can listen to you the whole day. So beautiful

You play really well. How do you split your over 4 hours practice a day? Any suggestions to get the most out of each practice session? I practice around 28 hours a week and I'm looking to find a way to practice more effectively and develope speed and accuracy.

Wonderfully informative, with brilliant playing. Thankyou so much, you had me captivated with your knowledge. I think the name is THadius Steinway ? Cheers anyway, John (Australia).

*.....so knowledgeable...*

id like my newer church piano to sound that great. If you want to see a restorers place, Try Klutzz Piano restoration in Rockwell NC, out side salisbury, charlotte, NC. they have been a family business and some of the restorations i have heard are great.

Sad, sad, sad. They didn't know what a treasure they had? The old wood-- the REASON it sounded superior-- cannot be duplicated now. Well, you tried to tell them, James, and you did a beautiful job of it (loved your playing). Thanks for the info and demo, and shame on the new owner of this once-great gem.