I heard that Bösendorfer offers a piano with a lid that is operated with a button or lever and raises, lowers and holds the lid in place using hydraulics.

Is this true?

Hey Elena, thanks for stopping by!

Chris, I think one of the reasons for the conjoined dou piano is the idea that the resonances will share, using the same frame, board and all-

Never, seen, heard or tuned one - so I don't really know if it's true.

The most obvious disadvantage of the Pleyel double grand would be that the bass strings are comparetively short, so that each piano would probably equal a 6 foot grand or a little smaller. I doubt that this piano would sound very impressive. Moreover it only has 85 keys which would not make it very appropriate for todays concert use. It looks very interesting, though.

Jens

You just *had* to rain on my parade didn't you, Jens!

Elena
http://www.pianofourhands.com

Hey markjpcs,

I went digging for the bosie:



and the text from the site:

I got to play this piano which is one of only two in the world! It is a special edition Bosendorfer Imperial Grand with solid brass legs, a hydraulic lid, extra keys and cost $250,000. It is at the Grand Bohemian in Orlando, Florida. (The other one is in China).

Cool!

quote:

Originally posted by EHpianist:
You just *had* to rain on my parade didn't you, Jens!

Elena
http://www.pianofourhands.com

Elena, try to see it this way: Now that you know the Pleyel grand has some shortcomings, it will be much easier for you to not regret that no such model is in current production.

Jens

Man. How lazy do you have to be to need hydraulics to operate your piano lid?

What next? Hydraulic pedals?

C'mon Cindy, think like a GUY ... it's not about lazy, it's about how COOL can it be made?

Now the pedals, I remeber a thread on pianotech of someone trying to adapt pedal solenoids to work for one of their wheelchair-bound clients. I never heard if they got it working, though there were suggestions for knee-operated pedals and such.

Cool!

Thanks for confirming and finding a photo!

Mark

quote:

originally posted by Cindy:
Man. How lazy do you have to be to need hydraulics to operate your piano lid?

Next thing you'll be telling me they make pianos that can play by themselves!

Hey ron - continued thanks for being MC of the Piano of the Day thread.

quote:

Originally posted by rontuner:
I never heard if they got it working, though there were suggestions for knee-operated pedals
and such.

I believe Steinbgraeber has such a system.

Ron,
Schimmel also has a hydraulic lid on the Pegasus.

quote:

Originally posted by KlavierBauer:
Ron,
Schimmel also has a hydraulic lid on the Pegasus.

Wow, a piano with a cockpit!

Joe

I just love the Pegasus!

Check this out!