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Searching for the Pleyel piano resulted in finding that Chopin's favored Pleyel was located recently.

And....I find something I never knew existed: A Pleyel Double Grand. You can see it being played on YouTube. Egri and Pertis, artists. I hear it as rather bright with weak bass and yet sounds great for a 105 year old piano.

Square shape with keyboard at each end.

Bech

There used to be a double Pleyel at a store (now closed) in San Francisco. There have been double instruments around for a long time, like mother and daughter harpsichords, where a spinet is built into what would have been the bentside of a harpsichord.

Do you know the owner's name? Or do you have informations of another double Pleyels in USA?

Can you give a link to the YouTube video recording?
The only Egri and Pertis one I can find is of them playing a Kawai.
Thanks.
rk

Here's the Poulenc Double on a Pleyel double:



Larry.

Thanks for that, Larry.
However, it doesn't sound or look like the 105 year old Pleyel that Bech refers to.
rk

There is a double grand (Pleyel, I believe) in the Cantos Music Foundation in Calgary Alberta.

I agree; I bet it isn't. It was just the closest I could get, and seemed worth sharing.

Larry.

What about the look and sound makes you think that?

In fact this particular piano is not quite 100 years old, but nearly so. Chances are, it will look and sound the same when it reaches 105 years of age.

I can't imagine moving that beast.

The inside of the piano (as far as it is possible to see inside watching the video)appears to be modern.
As far as the sound is concerned,the short answer to this is that my ears tell me. The tone more closely resembles that of a modern concert grand rather than one of a century old.I own a 110 year old Erard which has an old sound, albeit very good, clear tone.
Of course, recorded sound is deceptive, but probably not so deceptive as to convert and old sound into a modern one. Perhaps considerable restoration work has been done on the instrument.
rk

I have no news of a Chopin's pleyel located recently at least not in last two years.

The "modern" piano has been around for over 100 years. The sound of a video can be deceiving. And a good rebuilt piano will not sound like a half dead instrument from a century ago. The piano is 90+ years old. Visit the website:
http://nettleandmarkham.com/Double%20Piano.htm

I am not disputing the age of the piano. My point is that it sounds unlike a piano a century old and I repeat my comment that it has probably been subject to considerable restoration which your comment("a good rebuilt piano will not sound like a half dead instrument from a century ago") seems to confirm.
My 110 year old Erard has had no restoration, sounds its age but not "like a half dead instrument".It is still in good tune,and responds well.
I did also in my previous post make the point that recordings can sound deceptive, and with this in mind, a live "in the flesh" hearing may well reveal a sound the recording is missing.
rk

1880-1890 is where modern pianos started, 1800 to 1850 were the times of fortepianos and 1850 to 1880 the transition period.