George Steck originally established his firm in 1857. The first factory was located at 12th Street & 3rd Avenue in New York City.  George Steck primarily built square grand pianos during these first few years, and his pianos earned praise and popularity around the country. The firm quickly grew and moved to larger factories on Walker Street in 1859.  In 1865, George Steck opened “Steck Hall” on Clinton Avenue where his concert grand pianos were played by famous artists of the day.  Steck’s pianos were praised by famous composers like Richard Wagner for their power and clarity of tone.

By the 1880s, George Steck was offering a full line of square pianos, upright pianos and grand pianos. Mr. Steck personally introduced a number of innovations and improved designs with a focus of producing the finest instruments possible.

The firm was incorporated as “George Steck & Company” in 1884, and George Steck retired in 1887.  George Steck died in 1897, only 10 years after retirement.  George Steck spent the last 10 years of his life trying to develop a piano that would permanently stay in tune – a task he was never able to achieve.

George Steck & Company was sold to the large Aeolian Piano Company in 1904.  Aeolian continued to nurture the George Steck brand, allowing the manufacturing process to proceed as usual without change or interruption.   The demand for Steck pianos was so great that Aeolian built an additional factory in Gotha, Germany where Steck pianos were manufactured for the European market.

Under Aeolian’s ownership and guidance, the Steck firm provided one of the largest selections of upright player pianos and reproducing baby grand player pianos in the industry.  In 1932, the firm was absorbed into the large Aeolian-American Corporation, and the George Steck brand name continued to be a staple brand name of Aeolien for several decades.  Aeolian continued to build the George Steck name until the 1980s. Today, the George Steck name is once again being produced in Asian-import pianos.