Just saw the posting about the "Martha Stewart" Steinway Duo-Art
program on television, the other day.  Not long ago, I offered Henry
Z.  Steinway, who corresponds with me regularly, a VHS video copy of
the broadcast, since one of my musical friends who rebuilds players
has a client who saw and videotaped that particular episode.

The "Martha Stewart" part of Henry's reply [dated 30 October 1998]
below might interest you and the Internet readers:

   Dear Douglas --  Thanks for the offer of a Martha Stewart program
   video -- but I have already seen it, with all the glorious
   commercials.  It was a wonderful break for my nephew Miles Chapin
   who even had her holding up his book.

   And, I was delighted that Steinway's Bill Youse did such a fine job
   on camera.  He is a third-generation Steinway man, and in charge
   of our Restoration Department, as they call it.  A great P.R. break
   for Steinway!  Incidentally, it was filmed last Spring, which shows
   you how they work in TV.  (snip)

   Very best,

   (signed) Henry

Not long ago I wrote Henry Z. a letter from the Eastern Shore of
Maryland.  This concerned another "Stewart" - not related to Martha:
Ed Stewart, a boat builder and craftsman with a musical past.  (He was
a friend of John Charles Thomas and sang in the "Ave Maria" choir for
the soundtrack of Disney's feature Fantasia, for example.)

When the Steinway family was selling-off some of their property, much
of the wood was still floating in pools at the Long Island location.
A friend of Ed's bought truckload after truckload of walnut, originally
intended for use in the manufacture of pianos.

The wood was transported to Easton, Maryland and sat there for years,
until Ed purchased the entire stock.  He built a beautiful Chesapeake
Bay sailing boat, using this "Steinway wood", plus many pieces of
reproduction furniture for his residence on the water, all in the
colonial style, so that they blended in with the family's original
antiques.

Not long ago, due to his age, he sold the boat to a friend, who keeps
it in the dock by the Stewart house.  When it's out on the Bay, one
wonders if anyone realizes that the doors, trim and ornamental fittings
are all crafted from "Steinway walnut" -- originally from the ponds at
the Long Island site.

Hope the above information interests Steinway enthusiasts.

Regards,

Douglas Henderson
Artcraft Music Rolls, Wiscasset, ME 04578
(207) 882-7420
http://www.wiscasset.net/artcraft/