V. Sofronitsky and R. Brautigam fortepiano, fortepiano by Paul McNulty after Johann Andreas Stein (1728-1792), who was one of the most important fortepiano makers of Mozart's time. He was born in Heidelsheim in the family of organ builder. He apprenticed near Stuttgart with J.A. Silbermann and established his own workshop in Augsburg in 1751 where in 41 years he built around 700 fortepianos. By 1770 he was well known as an organist and organ and fortepiano builder.When Mozart paused in Augsburg in 1777, he befriended Stein.