C.F. Theodor Steinweg, being against Steinway & Sons promotion through concerts, insists in a letter to his brother William, that Steinway Hall should be turned into a warehouse. He also points out that because of its humidity, Astoria is not the right place for constructing piano action, which requires high precision in adjusting many small wooden details. (William Steinway will ignore both suggestions: Steinway Hall will remain open to public for over a decade longer, and the action-making will remain in Astoria). Excerpts from C.F. Theodor’s letter: “The damned artists treat pianomakers like cows to be milked. […] I know very well that you are a master of illusions who is plagued by a few fixed ideas against which neither warnings nor remonstrances have any effect. […] You want to make up for the building lots at any price.” The same letter from C.F. Theodor also contains near-direct accusations of William’s love of his Astoria real estate causing the death of Albert, and also Albert’s causing the death of their father, Heinrch Engelhard Steinweg: “You write that you feel very lonely. This does not surprise me. Our old father died of liver disease… because of the irresponsible way the craziest things were done behind his back on Albert’s orders that had to be changed three times. […] How come you only mention such important matters after they are done? Now I understand why Albert died; I prophesied this in the presence of his wife when he talked about building in Astoria. I said to him, Albert, please do not speak to me about this, it will kill you. You are not as strong as you think… I still have some trepidations about whether your rheumatic condition will not affect you by your stay in the stone house. Shorten your time there, dear brother.”