Mahler; Lindner in disguise?

[Gill the Piano]

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]

Blue/grey frame?

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

[Gill the Piano]

I suppose it burned better...

[tuna]

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]

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.

I rather like them!

They remind me of those little Airfix plane kits that stood on a plastic stand! Build quality not as good though.

[vernon]

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]

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

Broadly speaking you are correct..... Except the materials technology lagged thirty years behind the concept. I daresay it would work with today's plastics. The reverse thread wrestpins and slot-in micro wrestplank were poor ideas though.

[vernon]

nice to hear a reasonade reply
vernon( aged 99)

[Gill the Piano]

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

[Tom Tuner]

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]

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

[Tom Tuner]

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.

[Arlington]

For the first time in my professional life (I think), I have just stumbled on a Topic by Mahler/Lindner Pianos. Now, let me explain something. When I opened the top lid and started to dismantle, I felt as though I might have seen "something like this" before, and if I did, it would have been a very long time ago, in the puberty phase, no, infancy or even embryonic, to be more precise, of my professional life. I don't even remember whether I had worked on it, or just saw it. I didn't even recall the brand of the piano, but I suspect it must have been the same/similar, since there're not many of these around. Anyway, I have one to work on now, and I am "over the moon with excitement" to see where this "Topic" leads. Actually, I'm more interested in getting past the "Topic", and into the main body, and thereafter the conclusion. Will someone please pray for me? I promise to keep you posted.

[Arlington]

Strangely enough, I also came across a CAMEO recently, and thought, "Armageddon must be upon us". It sure is "cute", and that's all I'm willing to say without my lawyer present.

[Arlington]

OH NO!!! I forgot to mention that my topical, tropical Topic has wooden keys as well. Please forgive this single act of indiscretion.

[Gill the Piano]

. When I opened the top lid and started to dismantle, I felt as though I might have seen "something like this" before, and if I did, it would have been a very long time ago, in the puberty phase, no, infancy or even embryonic, to be more precise, of my professional life.

You might just have dreamt about it after a heavy cheese supper...

[Arlington]

Hahahahahahaha

[Barrie Heaton]

. When I opened the top lid and started to dismantle, I felt as though I might have seen "something like this" before, and if I did, it would have been a very long time ago, in the puberty phase, no, infancy or even embryonic, to be more precise, of my professional life.

You might just have dreamt about it after a heavy cheese supper...

Don't you mean a nightmare

[Gill the Piano]

That's the one...being chased by a Lindner then realising you're running towards an Eavestaff mini...

[Barrie Heaton]

That's the one...being chased by a Lindner then realising you're running towards an Eavestaff mini...

Nasty

[vernon]

I know this is about Lindners but.. I've got a teacher in the wilds of w scotland who has an Eavestaffe Miniroyal that is built into an alcove.
You can just raise the coffin lid enough to tune it. There is a broken jack b flat that cannot be accessed without a builder. She just says " I just avoid b flat when I'm teaching".
Job done.

[Colin Nicholson]

.... just whistle it! F G A oooo C D E F ....

[Gill the Piano]

I was thinking about the horrible ones where you have to sit cross legged on the floor to tune it. Then you go home and call the osteopath.

[vernon]

What about the fortunately rare ones where your trained assistant plays the keys while you squat at the back and tune the loosish long through wrest pins?
I remember those times when our family was living in a cardboard box on the M1

[Gill the Piano]

A cardboard box? Luxury - we DREAMED of living in a cardboard box; we lived in a paper bag...

[vernon]

I look down on you. I look up to him!

[Colin Nicholson]

sounds like the 2 ronnies sketch !

[Gill the Piano]

I know my place...

[vernon]

Korrect.

[Arlington]

You guys are reeeeaaaaaaaally funnieee, but a bit insensitive. Don't you know that these pianos have feelings??? And further, in this technologically-driven age, they're on the internet as well.

By the way, does anyone here have replacement parts for the Mahler/Lindner piano? I have a hammer flange (or whatever that plastic thing is) that's broken, and a spring or two that's missing

[Barrie Heaton]

vernon is the man he filled that cardboard box up with parts that he use to live in

Barrie

[Arlington]

Hahahah. Thanks for the response

[Barrie Heaton]

Hahahah. Thanks for the response

Go to quick links "piano Parts" and there is a link to Vernons website where you can buy the bits you need

[Arlington]

Hahahah. Thanks for the response

Go to quick links "piano Parts" and there is a link to Vernons website where you can buy the bits you need

Again I say, thanks, Barrie

[timthetune]

Mock away collegues, but as has been said before, the pianos themselves were fine, the materials were not fine.
I remember reading somewhere, not long ago,about a French guy with an engineering business, who rebuilt a Lindner using newly machined parts that he manufactured to replace the ones that regularly used to break.....
Here is the link https://alainfelixdenis.wordpress.com/category/musique/

Tim

[Gill the Piano]

I tuned one which had been backed up to a radiator which was full on...hadn't been tuned for four years and when I opened it a blast of hot air shot out. Not only was it still on pitch but the tuning was not offensive!
So the pianos could be all right but the materials let them down.

[vernon]

The Lindner story is very sad.
When they came out in the 70s they incorporated so many innovations that the conservative piano industry couldn't cope
First they came "flat packed" years before Ikea, with the keyboard folded down and the whole lot in a stout cardboard box.
They were cheap.
Had a welded steel frame.
Every component was interchangeable except the dampers and hammers obviously.
The action parts were not screwed but just clipped onto rails that allowed instant adjustment with the side of a screw driver..
Hammers,dampers were numbered so you just ordered a replacement if needed.
All the keys were identical in two parts ,front and back that was hinged so to replace a key you just turned it to the required angle and glued it.No bushings.
Completely tuner friendly- Key level-- lost motion

Unfortunately. the key springs proved unreliable and they soon reverted back to wooden bushed keys.(Mahlers)
Then they moved to Ireland and went broke.
Had they prospered with the new materials we have now I feel they would be the leaders.
I can't understand why none of the Big Boys have not incorporated some of their excellent ideas. Dented egos?

[Colin Nicholson]

Sad as it may be, I have various bits from a Lindner !.... that used to live in a butcher's pantry in Bradford (yes, fresh meat hanging next to it!)
1. 2 X crocodile jaw looking hammer flanges (springs OK)
2. A few set-off screws & plastic dollies (most have been unscrewed)
3. Nearly a full set of hammer heads (just sawn them off the shanks)

Don't know what happened to the few string type/ snap-on bridle tapes I had.... gutted!
Burnt the rest.....

[Barrie Heaton]

The other nice thing was reverse tuning pins so when you put a new string on you knocked the pin to the frame it lifted the coils and when you pulled it up the coil came away from the frame all nice and need