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Gill the Piano · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: Mahler; Lindner in disguise?

Tuned a Mahler piano (International Piano Industries) today. It seemed exactly like a Lindner - just as horrible - but with wooden keys instead of plastic. I wondered if they were by any chance related...?

PianoGuy · Persistent Poster Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 1335

Blue/grey frame?

Tis exactly that, A Lindner! The wooden keyboard was an extra-cost option!

Gill the Piano · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

I suppose it burned better... Twisted Evil

tuna · Persistent Poster Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 82

I think the 'topic' piano is also related to the beast of Shannon.

I did tune a Lindner grand last year, but fortunately, it had a Schwander roller action with wooden keyboard.

Mind you, it only had one leg! A central pedestal leg type thing.

PianoGuy · Persistent Poster Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 1335

vernon · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 80 Location: scotland

The Mahler is a Lindner. Just take off the black label on the wrest plank, turn it over and it generally says Lindner!.
Mind you they are fine pianos with the wooden keys( ducks behind steel shutters and dons stab-proof kevlar)
Lindners were the most forward looking and innovative pianos of the late 20th. miles in front of anything else and were the only advance in piano design and construction since Erard's double repetition action in 1857 ( Hope I don't get a Fatwa).
Unfortunately, the materials were largely crap but the idea was fantastic and however much people moan, they were the only technician -friendly concept ever.Space the hammers- two seconds with a wide screw driver. Level the keys? turn a screw under. If some of the more pompous makers were not to snooty to take tips, they could learn much from the late, largely unlamented Lindners.
Anybody got one for sale?
No thanks.
vernon( aged 97

PianoGuy · Persistent Poster Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 1335

vernon · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 80 Location: scotland

nice to hear a reasonade reply
vernon( aged 99)

Gill the Piano · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Blimey, Vernon, you're ageing before our eyes! Shocked

I have to say that I went to tune a piano, and when I opened the top, I was nearly thrown backwards by the blast of hot air; not only had they put it directly in front of the radiator, but the rad was on full throttle. However, not only was it NOT outrageously flat or out of tune, it stayed in tune under the same conditions for the year after that. They moved, fortunately, so I never had to mend keys with blu-tack or any of the other ad hoc repairs which make tuning Lindners such a joy... Rolling Eyes

Tom Tuner · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject:

Airfix were well built. No use for the stands 'tho. I can't imagine even a small grand piano being very stable on such a base. Must be fun to move.
I had no trouble making replacement key springs for the plastic keyboards, but making replacements for the plastic flanges was not fun.

vernon · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 80 Location: scotland

making flanges? Just buy replacement prts. I've plenty!
vernon

Tom Tuner · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject:

That's very useful to know, and it would have been even more helpful 20 years ago when I was still seeing an occasional Lindner. None have come my way since then. One wonders, however, how long replacement parts of the original material could be expected to last.