Steinway Musical Instruments

Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (NYSE|LVB) is a musical instrument manufacturing conglomerate.

Through acquisitions and mergers, the company (formerly known as Selmer Industries) has acquired a large number of musical instrument brand names and manufacturing facilities. It now owns manufacturers of pianos, string, brass, and woodwind instruments.

The company sells its products through a worldwide network of dealers to professional, amateur and student musicians, as well as orchestras and educational institutions, under dozens of different brand names.

According to the company's web site [www.steinwaymusical.com, viewed December 1, 2006.] , it employs a workforce of over 2,300 and operates 14 manufacturing facilities in the United States and Europe.

Company history

* 1853 Steinway & Sons founded.
*May 1995 Selmer Industries acquires Steinway Musical Properties, parent company of Steinway & Sons piano company
*"need date" Selmer Industries renamed Steinway Musical Instruments
*August 1996 Steinway Musical Instruments IPO
*January 1997 Acquisition of Emerson flutes, flute manufacturer
*December 1998 Acquisition of Kluge, piano key manufacturer
*March 1999 Acquisition of Steinway Hall, piano showroom in New York
*November 1999 Acquisition of O.S. Kelly, piano plate manufacturer
*January 2000 Acquisition of Pianohaus Karl Lang, piano showroom
*September 2000 Acquisition of United Musical Instruments, Inc., band instrument manufacturer
*January 2003 Merger of The Selmer Company and United Musical Instruments into one entity under Conn-Selmer, Inc.
*August 2004 Acquisition of G. Leblanc, band instrument manufacturer

This means, today a substantial number of classical (clarinetists and flutists) could claim rightfully they play a Steinway instrument. Of course, if they would claim this while attempting to sell their instrument it could be construed as a "Conn". However, it remains to be seen whether this argument would hold up in a court of law.

References

* [http://www.steinwaymusical.com/About.html Company history on company web site]

External links

* [http://www.steinwaymusical.com Steinway Musical Instruments company web site]