|
Steinway® is synonymous with fine instruments. A.C. Pianocraft is synonymous with over 200 years of combined Steinway® experience.
Founded in 1966 by Ted Kostakis and associates, they utilized systems and methods acquired during decades-long experience as final inspectors at the Steinway & Sons factory in New York City. These fine men brought to A.C. Pianocraft their unique and specialized talents and have used them to create finely rebuilt Steinway pianos. They taught other technicians their proven skill and old school techniques, and created a team of first rate craftsmen.
A few years ago, Ted passed ownership of A.C. Pianocraft to his son, Alex Kostakis, who was involved in the business from an early age and worked side by side with his father. Make no mistake, just like his father, Alex is meticulous to his craft and feels personally responsible to each piano that is entrusted to him for restoration. Today, Alex oversees a crew of men whose talents and craftsmanship is applied to every piano that to deliver "a distinctive rebuilt instrument" every time. Using the finest domestic and imported materials and with a rich understanding of traditions of the glory days of "old world craftsmanship", these instruments are fully and faithfully restored.
In 2007, A.C. Pianocraft merged with Drasche Pianos which combined the experiences of both Alex and Steve Drasche to deliver further quality service and to bring superb rebuilding and refinishing services to the piano community.
The last Four Generations of the Drasche Family have been involved in the art of making pianos. In the late 1800s, the Drasche family migrated to the United States and established their roots in Astoria, Queens. At that time Astoria was mostly farmland. The two major industries were lumber mil1s and Steinway & Sons, piano makers. For skilled German workers arriving there was always a job at one or the other. And so it
was that the Drasche family began finding their path in the piano business.
Johann Drasche worked for Steinway in the latter part of the century and then a bit into the 1900s. He had two sons that followed him into the piano business, George and Fred. George worked in the Steinway mill for many years and gave over 50 years of service. Fred became what is known as a "tone regulator" and worked for many years giving the Steinway piano its famous sound.
In his later years at Steinway Fred trained many technicians from around the country who came to the factory from Steinway's many dealers. He also prepared concert pianos for selection by the great artists of the time (Rudolf Serkin, Van Cliburn, etc.). Fred gave over 75 years of service to Steinway & sons. He also attended many piano technician Guild Conventions and disseminated his knowledge to the next generation of piano technicians.
In the early 1900s, Fred and George's older brother John had married Sophie Speyrer. This, in reality, was the merging of two great piano families. (Sophie was the sister of the Superintendent of Steinway & Sons, Fred Speyrer. Fred Speyrer’s son (Fred Jr.) would follow in his footsteps as Superintendent.) One of Sophie and John's sons, Walter, would be asked by his Superintendent Uncle whether he would like to go to college or have a job at Steinway. It was the 1930s, and with his father out of work, Walter elected for the job. Steinway & Sons benefited from this decision.
Walter began as a tone regulator also, but he soon became heavily involved in the up and coming fight to establish a pension plan. After negotiating this with Steinway management, Walter was offered a foreman’s position. He accepted. He was a foreman in a number of departments over the years, most notably the "Action" Department, where they manufactured the parts that made up the piano action; small intricate, precision pieces of wood and felt that give the piano its' "feel". Toward the end of his Steinway career, Walter would team up with Henry Steinway's son, Bill, and they would develop a procedure to ensure that the Steinway piano actions would stay free and easy regardless of temperature and humidity changes. For his work, Walter is listed as inventor of this procedure, US Patent Number 4386455, Permafree Bushing Cloth. Walter spent 49 years working for Steinway.
As much as Walter would have liked his son Stephen to not have worked for Steinway (a father always wishes more for his son than he had), the fourth generation of Drasches entered the factory as an employee in January of 1973. Stephen started out as a lumber marker; greeting the wood which had been stored outside in the yard for years and marking out the defects. Following this he learned how to glue hammers and dampers into Steinway uprights. In 1975 he began to learn the art of tuning. This enabled Stephen to work on pianos outside of the factory and experience a wider range of pianos from different eras and from various manufacturers.
Over the years, he has developed his craft and has become very well known and respected among his clients and his peers. He left Steinway & Sons in 1984 and started a company by the name of Drasche Pianos LLC. In 2007 Drasche Pianos merged with AC Pianocraft, combining the talent, experience and know-how of both Steve and Alex into one restoration company.
With over 30 years of experience in the piano business and a heritage to live up to, Stephen Drasche ensures that each client receives the highest quality of service and workmanship available.
Since A.C. Pianocraft’s inception, it has seen tremendous growth due to its success as a premiere rebuilder of Steinway instruments. To accommodate this expansion A.C. Pianocraft recently relocated its facilities to a Long Island City loft located in Queens just 5 minutes from the 59th Street Bridge. This move has enabled A.C. Pianocraft the ability to have a much larger factory space, about 14,000 square feet to be exact! We are able to accommodate well over 100 pianos at any given time. A portion of the loft space has been converted to a showroom which has many exquisitely rebuilt Steinway and Mason & Hamlin pianos. Free factory tours are opened to the public to see the restoration process in action and to try our magnificent vintage pianos in our showroom.
At A.C. Pianocraft our goal for each piano sent to us is to preserve its unique heritage. The results are to provide you, the customer, with an opportunity to own the best of the past, combined with solid durability that will last again through the generations. So what could be more gratifying than your personal, meticulously rebuilt, beautifully refinished, custom-tailored grand piano from the artisans in the old Steinway tradition.
If you are interested in any one of our piano services you can contact us to discuss your piano needs and we would be happy to assist you.
|
