- Steinway & Sons’ inventory book dated with this year shows several pianos as “loaned” at zero dollars value. Franz Liszt has been lent Steinway # 49,382. Richard Wagner was the recipient of Steinway # 34,304 and physicist Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz received a piano #50,515, a Style B grand.
- Steinway & Sons offers its customers the choice between grand, square or upright Steinway & Sons pianos within roughly the same price range between $700 and $1,200.
- During this year pianomaking becomes increasingly unimportant in William Steinway’s life. He continuously expands his business horizons, while the operations of Steinway & Sons fall under control of his nephews in Manhattan, and a trusted bookkeeper, A.J. Menzl, in Astoria.