Steinway & Sons circular “To Our Dealers and Agents” dated with that day, introduces Steinway & Sons’ new ebonized cherry-wood veneer (to replace the traditional rosewood veneer used for Steinway & Sons piano cases since 1853). Rosewood veneer cracks in European climate, especially in England; the varnishing process with rosewood is costly, and requires too many varnishers, who are prone to having strikes too often. Switching to ebonized cherry-wood entails significant change in piano appearance, but solves these problems.