Yep, my dear old Nordheimer “Lansdowne” piano is over one hundred years old.
I got curious, so I searched its serial number. The search indicates. according to Heintzmann, who bought Nordheimer in 1927, that my piano was built in late 1913 or early 1914. Over one hundred years ago.
And it still plays well. It’s out of tune, but it works just fine for me–playing ragtime, and making my fingers still hit where they should. The action (as Ray Charles would say about how it plays) is just right, and it is comfortable. I’ve played this piano for fifty years, and I love it. I’m glad to know that it is over 100 years old, and that it still plays well.
My electronic piano is always in tune, but it just isn’t the same. I love my dear old Nordheimer piano. Mundane and pointless, but I had to share.
Perhaps mundane but not pointless. I love ragtime music. I’ve always associated out of tune pianos with honky-tonk.
I have an old Martin tuba which the serial number dates to 1917. It predates A=440 being adopted as standard. It’s just barely just in tune with the tuning slide all the way in. I wouldn’t trade it for the world
I like thinking about your 100 year old piano and all the notes played on its keys, and all the songs those notes made. All the joy that came out of it. And all the people who listened to all that music. It boggles the mind. Never could there be a better friend than a musical instrument. Keep it well.