The Hindenburg’s Aluminum Piano

The Hindenburg's Piano (click all photos to enlarge). Photo courtesy Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik.

The Hindenburg’s Piano (click all photos to enlarge). Photo courtesy Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik.

The Hindenburg featured the first piano ever to be carried on a passenger aircraft.

To meet the strict weight limits of a lighter-than-air dirigible, the Zeppelin company commissioned the renowned piano making firm of Julius Blüthner to create a lightweight aluminum alloy piano, and the Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik created a small grand piano that weighed only 162 kg (356 lbs).  The frame, rim, fallboard, and top lid were made of duralumin, and the legs, back bracing, and lyre were made of hollow duralumin tubing.
Associated Press reporter Louis P. Lochner, who was a passenger on Hindenburg’s maiden voyage to the United States, commented that the piano had a “particularly large and full tone” despite its aluminum construction.

Franz Wagner at Hindenburg's Piano, with Dr. Rudolf Blüthner-Haessler to his left in the corner, and Captain Ernst Lehmann to his right.

Franz Wagner at Hindenburg’s Piano, with Dr. Rudolf Bluthner-Haessler to his left in the corner, and Captain Ernst Lehmann to his right. Photo courtesy Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik.

The external appearance of the piano was designed by architect Fritz August Breuhaus, who was responsible for Hindenburg’s interior design and decoration. The piano was covered with pale pigskin, which was not only lightweight but also gave the piano a warm appearance that matched the tonal qualities of the instrument.

Lounge of the Hindenburg, as completed (left) and under construction. Zeppelin chief designer Ludwig Dürr standing at right of photo, with Professor Franz Wagner at the piano and Captain Ernst Lehmann to Wagner's right

Lounge of the Hindenburg (left).  Lounge under construction (right); Zeppelin chief designer Ludwig Dürr standing, at right of photo, Professor Franz Wagner at the piano, Captain Ernst Lehmann to Wagner’s right

The piano was located in Hindenburg’s Lounge on A Deck, where it was frequently played by passengers and the ship’s musical captain, Ernst Lehmann, who had earlier entertained passengers on the Graf Zeppelin with his accordion.

NBC Radio broadcaster Max Jordan, with Franz Wagner at the piano

NBC Radio broadcaster Max Jordan, with Franz Wagner at the piano.  Photo courtesy Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik.

The Blüthner piano was a prominent feature of the Hindenburg’s first flight to America, during which Dresden pianist Professor Franz Wagner gave several concerts for the passengers, playing classical music by Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven, and Brahms as well as popular music.

Also on the flight was Dr. Rudolf Bluthner-Haessler, of the Blüthner piano company, who was traveling to America with his company’s latest creation.

As the Hindenburg approached the coast of North America on the last night of the voyage, NBC radio reporter Max Jordan directed a live broadcast during which Professor Wagner played Schubert’s Serenade and Strauss’s Blue Danube, and accompanied Lady Suzanne Wilkins who sang “I’m in the Mood for Love.”

The piano also played a large role in the 1975 film “The Hindenburg” by director Robert Wise, which featured a satirical political concert by passenger Joseph Spah (played by Robert Clary) and a fictional character called Reed Channing (played by Peter Donat).

"The Hindenburg" (1975)

“The Hindenburg” (1975)

The concert was pure poetic license, and the piano was not even aboard the Hindenburg on the ship’s final flight.  The piano was removed before the beginning of the 1937 season and taken to the Blüthner factory, where it was placed on display.  The piano was destroyed in 1943 when the factory burned following an air raid during the Second Word War.

The author would like to express his deep appreciation to the Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik, and in particular to Ms. Carolin Voigt, for their assistance with this article.

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Shan
Shan

My question is this. Why was the piano ever removed? It’s not like they had music or video to keep them distracted. There is only so much letter writing and book reading one can do over a 3 day period. Even chatting gets monotonous after a while when its the… Read more »

Hendrick Stoops
Hendrick Stoops

The Bluthner was removed as part of a weight-saving measure during the 1936-1937 layover when the new set of B-deck cabins were installed.

Don
Don

I never thought I’d hear the sound of that piano! What a shame it didn’t survive the War…

Georgie
Georgie

question: where was the piano???

Bruce Meyer
Bruce Meyer

Hindenburg piano question: I was told by an elderly person visiting the NJ aviation museum where I give tours, that the Hindenburg’s piano was in the USA (we have other pieces from the airship). He gave me the name of a small town in Maine and the road of the… Read more »

Dagmara Lizlovs
Dagmara Lizlovs

If only this could be true. So many artifacts are lost in wars.

Fritz
Fritz

The piano in the movie isn’t even a replica, you can tell by comparing the legs.

Rodney Drew
Rodney Drew

Having just purchased a 134 year Blüthner, I have found your research
invaluable.

Dagmara Lizlovs
Dagmara Lizlovs

I hope you are enjoying your 134 year old Blüthner. Although one of my favorite composers, Sergei Rachmaninoff, was a Steinway Artist, I had read that he had this comment: “There are only two things which I took with me on my way to America…my wife and my precious Blüthner”.… Read more »

Julian Weaver
Julian Weaver

I don’t know whether you ever followed this up but I am conducting research at the BBC next week and will take a look.

Kristina Richards
Kristina Richards

Dear Mr. Grossman, I believe you spoke with my predecessor, Carolin Voigt, about the aluminium Blüthner. I have seen this site many times and must commend you on what an excellent resource this is. Of course, we in Leipzig are now dying to know where you found this film footage!… Read more »

Mark Klausen
Mark Klausen

The prop piano in the photograph from the 1975 movie bears very little resemblance to the original. As usual, film makers spend very little time researching their subjects. How hard could it be to just make it appear the same as the original?

Don
Don

It’s Hollywood- good technical direction in aviation-oriented films is notoriously hard to find. They’ll play a Bell 47 helicopter engine/rotor sound when the helicopter being filmed is a Hughes 500. This was lampooned in ‘Airplane!’ when every exterior shot of the Boeing 707 jetliner had propeller/piston sound. One exception is… Read more »

BonnieLee
BonnieLee

I am in possession of what I am told is a nightclub stroller. A small piano that is missing the top and bottom octaves. It is lightweight due to an aluminum interior. I was told they were made during WWII. I am looking for more information on the piano. BonnieLee

George Mitchell

This is the first piano I have ever heard like this, but this is amazing.