A moment in history
By the time Walter Drasche began working for Steinway & Sons, his grandfather and three uncles had already been employed there. The only non-Drasche uncle (Fred Speyrer) had become the Factory Superintendent and had given him the choice of a college education or a job. People were still reeling from The Great Depression. Jobs were hard to come by. John Drasche (Walter's father) had been out of work for some time. "I'll take the job," said Walter. And so, Walter Drasche started a 49-year career working at the Steinway factory. Unfortunately, that career was interrupted in 1941 when he served as an Army Corporal, fighting mostly in the Philippine Islands and New Guinea; far, far from his family, his home and the piano factory.
Upon his successful return, he became a strong advocate for the forming Union, at which point the current President of the company (Henry Steinway) took notice and convinced Walter to come over to the company side and become a foreman. He maintained that position in the Action Department (where they manufactured the moving parts of the piano) for a good number of years. He later became foreman of the Grand Finishing Department (where they wrapped up working details on the grand pianos), at which point I had the pleasure of being one of his employees when I was learning how to tune pianos.
He was tough, but fair; understanding but unreasonable when it came to quality work and company rules. In the 1970s, he joined the Research and Development Department and had to wear a tie; a little out of place for him, yet he wore it well. While working there with Bill Steinway (Henry's son) he received a US Patent for developing a treatment for cloth that involves the movement of the piano action parts. I still have a signed book to my father from Henry Steinway. It reads: "For Walter Drasche, One of the men who made Steinway great."
To Tune or Not to Tune: This is the Answer
First of all - what is “tuning”? “Tuning” is merely an adjustment of the strings and pitch so that the piano becomes “in tune”; just like tuning any other instrument except for the fact that the tuner needs to check, correct and adjust over 250 strings and the tension from these strings measures over a ten tons!
There are many factors involved in the maintenance of pianos through tuning; some of which are:
1) Geographical Location
2) Room Location
3) Usage
4) Condition
5) Frequency of Tunings
6) The Person Playing it
7) The Tuner
1) In the Northeastern United States, temperature and humidity changes usually necessitate a minimum of twice per year.
2) A piano placed next to a heat source, air conditioner or open window can usually go out of tune quicker than one not so positioned.
3) Usually, the more you play, the more frequently the strings will need adjustment.
4) If a piano has loose tuning pins, has too much tension after rebuilding (not everyone knows what they are doing) or some other mechanical situation that needs attention, its ability to hold a tuning or even take to one will be lessened.
5) A piano that is tuned regularly will be prevented from going out of tune too far, need less adjustment and will therefore hold a tuning better. The more the pitch has to be raised, the faster it will drop again.
6) Each piano owner will have different ears, different needs and different opinions on what can be tolerated before they consider another tuning. Even slight out of tune-ness makes the piano loose its beautiful harmonics and singing tone.
7) Some tuners are better than others. Some have tuned tens of thousands of pianos and have learned through experience. I have found that a great tuner, tuning by ear, is better than any tuner using a machine.
Many times I am tuning a piano in someone’s home and I see a guitar or a violin, etc. If the customer asks “How often should I tune my piano?” I often ask them how often do they tune that I other instrument. The answer is usually “Every time I pick it up.” And although it’s not feasible or economical to have your piano tuned every time you sit down to play, most people don’t have it done often enough.
To Tune or Not to Tune?
A history of a piano maker's family
A number of years ago I was tuning a piano at a Senior Center in Long Island City Queens, not too far from the neighborhood I had grown up in, Astoria. As I was working, an older gentleman stopped to chat. I found out later he was 79 years old at the time and that his name was Peter. He looked nowhere near his age. In fact, he was wearing a tool belt loaded with a hammer, screwdrivers and various pliers and was doing handyman type actions at the center. Through our conversation we discovered that we were both from Astoria. he, being much older than I, informed me of what it was like living there when he was younger. We had a nice little talk and then he let me go on with my work.
As I continued, a strange feeling came upon me to ask him if he had ever known any Drasches or Speyrers (the Speyrer family was my father's mother's side of the family and was fairly well off back then and i assumed were more well known than the Drasche family). When Peter came back into the room I asked him that very question. His face turned white and he seemed to look into nothingness, but was in reality looking back as if my question had thrown him into some past time. "Drasche, Johnnie Drasche?" asked Peter. "Johnnie Drasche was my grandfather", I said, although I never called "Gramps" that. Peter continued on telling me the story of his acquaintance with my grandfather with great enthusiasm, admiration and gratitude.
My grandfather , unlike his two brothers who worked for Steinway & Sons, had opted for the other industrial job choice in Astoria at that time: lumber. Located near the Steinway factory he was a foreman in the lumber mill. Peter (at 17 years of age) had applied for a job in the mid 1920s and John Drasche interviewed him. Seeing that Peter had a good knowledge of wood, he was hired. I was told by Peter how much he loved my grandfather, little things that he remembered like getting an apple or some lunch that was brought from home and shared by Johnnie.
The mill moved to Brazil or Peru (I can't recall which) shortly after the stock market crash of 1929. My grandfather electing to stay in the States and be unemployed for a good number of years. "I always wondered what happened to Johnnie after that", said Peter. I filled him in on what I had known especially the parts about how he showed me the same love, affection and caring that he had shown Peter those many years go. I watched Peter's face as I told him the story of John Drasche's remaining years (he passed away in 1976) and it was like filling an empty treasure chest with gold.
I never saw Peter again, but that was a good day for me, him and Johnnie Drasche
A tribute to my friend, Henry Steinway
(written on September 18, 2008)
I just found out that Henry Steinway passed away today. Not only has the piano industry lost a great member of it's community, but i have lost a longtime friend. Rumor has it that on a bright summer day in 1969, a young, blonde-haired 15 year old named Steve Drasche was sitting on a fence near the shipping department at Steinway & Sons waiting for his father, Walter, to pick him up and go to lunch together. Henry happened to be in the shipping office at the time and asked for the foreman, "Who's that good-looking kid sitting on the fence?". We were friends ever since. There will be a lot of accolades poured on Henry over the next few days and deservedly so. He and his family have done a tremendous amount of good toward the expansion and continuation of the popularity of the acoustic piano. I will remember Henry's kindness and thoughtfulness (he was always sending me calendars or photos or news clippings with the little notes attached). I used to say to people "He makes me feel like I'm the Steinway!" - always glad to see me, always happy to have a chat about the "old days" at the factory. Though we were almost 40 years apart in age, it seemed like we were equals in every way when we sat together at 109 West 57th St. and reminisced. I shall miss those times. Thank you, Henry
