Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Steinway Model O: 2-pedal vs. 3-pedal

Does anyone know why some Hamburg Steinway Model O-180's have 2-pedals (the O-180 in question is a 1924 Hamburg manufacture according to Steinway Hamburg, based on serial #)? When, and why, did 3-pedals become standard in the Model O (the current Hamburg Steinway catalog describes 3-pedals as standard for Model O-180's). Thanks in advance for any answers, thoughts, and comments.

I have a 1917 NY model O, with 3 pedals. Maybe only the NY models were 3-pedal at the time?

The sostenuto pedal was not popular in Europe until European pianos started coming to the US in quantity, about 1970 or so. They were probably more prevalent on Hamburg Steinways than other makes, but they were optional. Three-pedal Steinway uprights are relatively scarce, both Hamburg and NY. They seemed to be more popular before 1900, and then less so. They probably reflected what happened with other upright manufacturers, but Steinway was honest enough not to put useless pedals on their uprights.

During the early 20th Century the sostenuto pedal appears to be standard on the A and larger sizes of the Hamburg Steinway pianos. The O and M normally had two pedals. Two pedals was normal for European pianos.

Thank you Niles, BDB, & key88sf for your helpful and informative comments. Regards, retyrenc.