Hi All,
We just inherited an antique Lindeman and Sons Cycloid baby grand piano. It looks beautiful but needs lots of work making it sound right.

We are looking for repair advice. We live in Cincinnati and appreciate your advice.
many thanks,
Kate

If I am correct, this is what is called a "square grand" piano, although this one has a curved back case instead of four corners. But, technically, it is a square, albeit an interesting looking and perhaps rare one. Squares were commonly built up into the 1880s, maybe a bit later. Their design had all kinds of idiosyncrasies which resulted in an inferior touch and tone. That piano style was abandoned in favor of the grand piano shape we know now.

Squares are difficult to rebuild, and the outcomes are mostly unsatisfying as far as a functioning piano goes. Most action parts are no longer available. Many technicians even refuse to try to tune them, and many of these instruments are un-tunable by now, due to their age and structure.

There are always exceptions, and only a close up inspection by a piano technician will really give you answers on what your piano needs, what it will cost etc. There are even technicians who specialize in working on these beasts (bless their hearts!).

If you are intent on having it rebuilt properly, be prepared to ship it across the country and pay a hefty price to end up with a beautiful looking piece of furniture that is a mediocre instrument.

This little bit from the Antique Piano Shop confirms that it's essentially a square grand:

http://www.antiquepianoshop.com/product/429/lindeman-cycloid-grand-piano/

"William Lindeman was a great inventor and innovator. Right after the Civil war, he designed a 3 legged piano called a "Cycloid Piano" which was loosely based on the then popular square grand piano design. The principal behind the idea seems to have been to build a square piano that would sit in the middle of a room rather than up against the wall...much like a typical grand piano would sit. The Cycloid Piano was built with the cabinet finished on all sides, making it attractive from every angle. The back of the piano is shaped like a half moon, and only has one back leg in the center of the piano rather than two back legs like a square piano."