Renner actions in European pianos

[john90]

Can anyone tell me when Bechstein, Boesendorfer, and (Hamburg) Steinway switched over to using Renner actions?

[silverwoodpianos]

Would have been sometime between 1882 and 1902 or so. This is when the Renner GmbH began to build piano actions.

 I have come across a Bechstein from 1886 with the (very unusual) Brevet action from Herrburger- Schwander, so for Bechstein and possibly Blüthner maybe a little later on.

Some history for you
https://www.louisrenner.com/history-of-the-action.asp

I do know that after the wall went up (1963?) until around 1985 when it came back down Blüthner fitted any instrument coming to the west with a Renner action. The ones that remained behind the curtain had the Fleming action.

Also for a time there was the Blüthner Patent action fitted into certain models. Most previous to 1930 I believe.




 

[carl_h]

Grotrian Steinweg has the renner mechanism aswell

[john90]

I hadn't thought about the wall affecting Blüthner.

There are a lot of Boesendorfers with the old Vienna actions in here in mainland Europe, from around 1900 or so, not often, but sometimes for less than $1000. I am wondering how different the pianos were that left with Renner actions, compared to the old Vienna actions. Things like distance between the strings and keybed, damper lever interface. Were both types basically the same frame, soundboard, dampers?

From late 1800s up to 1913, apparently you could specify which type of action you wanted in your Boesendorfer. Presumably the modern type would be made by Renner. I am wondering if it is possible to swap the complete backrail, keyboard action, etc, slide it out, and push in a different type backrail, keyboard, action of the same vintage, properly prepared and regulated for the same piano. It would be cool to have two different type actions in a piano of that era. A lot more efficient space wise!

[pianolive]

S&S Hamburg: Before WW2 actions were made by renner but also by S&S NY and a decade further back european actions were also sent to NY. You cannot from the action, tell if the old S&S are made in Hamburg or NY, but there are other ways.
Bechstein used Schwander upp in the 40:ties. Great actions! I have even seen small Bechstein K grands with Flemming actions.
Blüthner used the Blüthner Patent action parallell with the Erard modell to the middle 1920. During the "Wall years" Flemming actions were used.