Anyone know who makes and where one can buy the hydraulic bench being used at the Chopin Competition going on now in Poland?

I tried a Google search without luck. I'm just curious because I think the bench only makes sense for venues used by many different pianists(and not for me personally). One contestant at the Chopin Competition couldn't figure out how to use it and had to call for help before his recital started!

I haven't been watching the competition, but is this it?

http://www.bondypiano.com/bench_810.htm

The Jansen company sells a hydraulic bench, but it isn't listed in their catalog. Ask your dealer or technician to check on the price in the finish you want.

The one at the competition is, I think, a German made one that is a new design. You turn the knob to release the mechanism and adjust the height, then when you release the knob it locks in place. This was an interesting design, but I don't know if anyone sells them in the US.

These benches come with the Fazioli pianos. Manuel Bernaschek at Showcase Pianos in Vancouver BC can get you one.

There is at least one make - Discaciatti - represented in the US.

These hydraulic benches are very widely used in Europe on concert stages and in music schools/academies because being make fully out of metal they are the most sturdy and stable but preumably not the most elegant chairs one can imagine:

Discatciatti - hydraulic

schwammerl.

I am aware of 2 different versions of a hydraulic piano bench. One is made by Andexinger in Germany (they claim to be the inventor, maybe Discacciatti just resells them):
http://www.andexinger.com/html/modell_484__484s.html (unfortunately in German)

There are several sizes (for 1 player, for 2 kids, for adult 2 players) and colours. Not sure whether they are available in the US. If you do not mind the hassle of international delivery, you could probably order them from Thomann (www.thomann.de) in Germany.

The other version looks more like a traditional piano bench, with the hydraulic
hidden "under the hood":
http://www.burghardtbaenke.de/englisch/inhalte_englisch/glissandomodels.html

Again, no idea whether you can buy them in the US (they have a "international dealers" list on their site, but it lists only European dealers). However an US dealer might be able to order from them directly.

Here's something a little different. I've been using the Concert Design piano chair for a few years now and have adandoned the artist bench. This is much better for my back. It has multiple adjustments. It's pneumatic and has a little bit of bounce to it. Acts like a shock absorber.


http://concertdesign.com/piano_bench.html#piano_chair

I have to say that this chair looks suspiciously like an office chair, many of which have lots of adjustments. Some office chairs come without arms, and even if present, the arms usually come off by removing a few bolts. Many office chairs have a little bounce to them as well. A little investigation at an office-supply store could save a cool $500 dollars over buying one of these specialty items.

I thought the same as you did until I actually broke down and bought a concert design chair. I tried all kinds of office chairs and none of them worked for me. Unlike office chairs, this chair does not swivel. The base is unique and very strudy and not on wheels. If you found an office chair of this quality, it would cost every bit as much as this piano chair does. I never understood why anyone would pay $500+ for a flat bench that only goes up and down.

I just bought my hydraulic piano bench from this company: First Fusic Store and I'm very happy of their service, their price is very competitive, they have Spanish and Italian made hydraulic piano bench. I paid a lot of money for my hydraulic, but as a piano teacher, it's worth every penny.
You can check it @ www.firstmusicstore.com

All-

Having a Jansen hydraulic here at school and wanting another I checked with Jansen who said they no longer manufacture them. The Discaciatti , which we then purchased, while plain Jane, works well and is a reasonable replacement. Thanks for the links to these other makers.

Best-

David Brown
SMU Dallas