[1][8] Weber emigrated to the United States at the age of 16, and while his first intent was to support himself by teaching music and playing the organ,[7] he soon was employed first as an apprentice of Charles J.

[1] During this time, Weber supplemented his income by giving music lessons in the evenings, and by playing the organ in churches on Sundays.

[10] By 1864 Weber had achieved some success with the then-popular "square grand piano",[1] and opened a larger factory nearby at 41 Wooster Street in Manhattan, and later expanded that facility several times.

[7] Weber's products were arguably some of the highest-quality pianos of their day, famous for fine materials and exacting attention to detail.

[16] Described as having a "Bohemian" temperament, it may be that Weber's health failed due to his hard work and restlessness, or it may that he taxed his body with various vices such as smoking and drinking.

)[18] The jury found in favor of Miss Todd, and a New York State appeals court affirmed the judgement for a total of $10,868 with interest from the time of Weber's death.

[22] For example, in a New York Times piano buying guide in 1874 (which was possibly a paid advertisement), Steinway and Weber are the top two brands with the longest paragraphs.

[24] Many strong brands were established, and despite the protection of trademarks, many counterfeit pianos were also being produced with low-quality materials and sold at a deep discount.

"[25] Weber, an admirer of the American system of social mobility that had allowed him to rise so far in society, quipped: "The poorest is as much entitled to an office as the richest, if he gets the votes.

[25] The election of Weber and Hale offended some of the largest piano and organ makers of the day, who sought to control this industry group.

[8] As far as Joseph P. Hale, he too had traveled a similar path, but focused on production efficiency and assembly-line work methods.

Those of the bogus makers who proved obstinate I handed over to my attorneys... who speedily procured an injunction on the work and recovered judgement.

"[25] Although Weber's boldness had benefited him, and allowed him to win many battles, Steinway & Sons ultimately won the war.

[22] Unlike Steinway, Weber focused his efforts on refining quality, materials and worksmanship rather than technological innovation.

[21][27] Further, Steinweg was better able to delegate control of his burgeoning empire to his family members,[21] while Weber struggled with micro-management and had difficulty stepping back from the minutiae of day-to-day operations.

[9] Steeped in the piano industry from an early age, Weber Jr. became a skilled businessman, and continued improving production techniques and designs.

He incurred many debts, having personal financial troubles as early as 1883[28] that required his father's estate to provide the funds to rescue him.

[31] Weber incurred these debts due to his "playboy" style of living as a socialite and "well-known man about town"[32] by spending money on women, gambling, and speculative investments.

[28][33] His first marriage, in June 1881, to the daughter of a prominent Manhattan dentist, was dissolved in November 1884,[34] and seven months later he married the "charming soubrette" Irene Perry[35] to whom he was serially unfaithful.

[28] According to one documented court proceeding in 1894, where Weber Jr. was being prosecuted for failing to pay a debt of $300 despite a large salary and having received $50,000 in cash and $200,000 in shares when his company went public, Weber Jr. was involved in the following: furnishing an extravagant apartment for the burlesque performer and "last word in female magnificence"[37] Nina Farrington, who had overspent the amount he had guaranteed the store Hilton, Hughes & Co; failing to pay Hilton, Hughes & Co. any of the money he had guaranteed, prompting a lawsuit; being obligated to pay alimony to his first wife;[32][33] frequenting illegal poker and gambling establishments; being present in a gambling house when it was raided by police; and guaranteeing money to others when he knew that he was, in fact, insolvent.

[32] Only a few weeks later, Weber had a mental breakdown that required he be taken to Bellevue Hospital's insane pavilion, although this may have been an attempt to escape from his creditors.

[29] Weber retired from the piano-making business to seek his health (or possibly escape his creditors) in Florida, but contracted malaria there, which killed him.

[40] Weber received the endorsements of pianists such as Madeline Schiller, Constantin Ivanovich von Sternberg, Moriz Rosenthal and August Wilhelmj,[41] as well as opera conductor Colonel James Mapleson.

[45] In 1896, in the depths of the economic depression known as the Panic of 1893, the Weber-Wheelock Company almost went out of business, but managed to survive despite declaring bankruptcy.

[49] The Aeolian-American Company collapsed in bankruptcy in 1985, after navigating the decades-long waning popularity of the piano as a home entertainment device in favor of the radio and then the television.

[5][51] Beginning in 1995, the Albert Weber line was designed by an international team under the auspices of Joseph Pramberger, who was formerly the Vice President of Manufacturing for Steinway & Sons.

[53] Historical serial numbers and approximate date of manufacture for Weber (New York) Pianos:[55][56][dubious – discuss]