Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > December 1998 > 1998.12.03 > 09Prev  Next


Aluminum Piano On Hindenburg, and Other Odd Pianos
By Bryan Cather

There was indeed an aluminum piano on board the Hindenburg.  It was
custom built, of course, and was apparently somewhat of a marvel.

I used to know who built it, but memory fails. In the movie, the
character Joseph Spah (an actual Hindenburg passenger portrayed by
an actor who looked just like him) plays a humorous song on it, much
to the embarrassment of captains Pruss and Lehman, not to mention the
Luftwaffe captain, as the song is mocking the Nazis.  Of course, the
piano was not recreated for the movie, so it didn't sound like an
aluminum piano

However, in piano tuning school, we had a spinet piano with an
aluminum plate.  It was very lightweight (two people could easily
lift it), and sounded hideous.  I don't recall the manufacturer...

We had a number of odd pianos there.  We had a fully restored Mason &
Hamlin screw-stringer, a Chickering with a pot metal action (unplayable
and impossible to work on), a Steinway upright with a burled walnut
interior, a piano with no pinblock ( special pins were driven into the
plate itself), and an 1875 Broadwood grand.

The school shut down shortly after I left, and everything was sold.
I wonder what became of all the oddities...?

Bryan Cather  -  Arlington Texas
(For all you coaster freaks, I'm right across the street
from Six Flags!)


(Message sent Thu 3 Dec 1998, 22:29:12 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Aluminum, Hindenburg, Odd, Other, Piano, Pianos

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page