October 1938

  • Steinway & Sons introduces the Model K upright piano, a 45″-tall, 57.5″ wide and 25″ deep “micro-Steinway”, originally designed by Henry L. Ziegler at the turn of the century.
  • Steinway & Sons hasn’t mass-built upright pianos for many years, and there is only one worker at Steinway & Sons factory who not only remembers the technology, but can also adequately describe it to others: Charles Reger, a cabinetmaker working in the fly-finishing department. Paul Bilhuber and Frederick Vietor collaborate with Charles Reger on creating the necessary technology.
  • The Model K, planned as the first Steinway & Sons instrument produced with machine tools, inspires Paul Bilhuber to develop machines for its production, but will never bring much profit to Steinway & Sons. Model K is expensive to build, but isn’t noticeably better than small upright pianos built by other manufacturers that already dominate the market.