Musikalienhandlung von Sigmund Anton Steiner und Tobias Haslinger in Wien, 1835/1840 - Fotografie eines Aquarells von Franz Weigl

Sigmund Anton Steiner was a gifted and clever businessman who started as a writer and secretary and worked his way up to publisher. In 1803 he purchased the print shop formerly owned by Alois Senefelder, the inventor of lithography. After the young Tobias Haslinger joined Steiner's company (from 1826 he was the sole owner), the publishing house printed, apart from lithography, mainly sheet music. It was around that time when Steiner met Ludwig van Beethoven. Until the 1820s his company published many works of the composer for the first time.

Steiner's and Haslinger's company, located in the Paternostergasse (from 1835 "Trattners Hof" in the Graben) in Vienna, became a popular meeting point for Beethoven and his friends. A relaxed atmosphere prevailed. During business negotiations military expressions were used in a facetious manner: Beethoven was referred to as "Generalissimus", Steiner as Generalleutnant" (major general) and Haslinger as "Adjutant".(S.B.)