Ladies, gents,
First time poster here but was interested in the various comments about Richard Lipp pianos (the original German ones that is). So, with apologies for it being an older original post and because we're all a bit strange in the piano world I can give some very broad history of the brand here in Australia.
Principal agents in Victoria were Allans Music from as far back as the mid-1870's. I've seen photographs of Adelaide S.A. in the 1890's and the agents there were Kuhnels, also a long-established local dealer.
German pianos became popular in Australia in the 1880's thanks mainly to the great International Exhibitions (Sydney 1979, Melbourne 1880 and 1888) in which the German piano manufacturers overshadowed the complacent British competitors with a range of styles, better pricing (Bismark's national shipping lines playing their part) and frankly, better quality. The Germans were also embracing the latest in American technology, which gave them a technological edge.
The Richard Lipp, as has been correctly observed above IMO, was a manufacturer of high class. Not really in the same realm as a Bechstein or Bluthner, but highly regarded nevertheless, and with a performance to match.
Their most popular upright through the pre-1900 era was quite unique visually as the end-plates are curved, not flat. For want of a better name we call them the 'extended end' models. The Tone in the mid-range and bass in particular is quite outstanding and I can vouch personally that the bass strings are longer than a C5 Yamaha's!
The 'extended-end' models do suffer from one major issue with age, and that is the standard non-laminated tuning-plank (wrest-plank for the northern hemisphere) of rock beech dries out very badly in the Australian climate. Lifetime residency in northern N.S.W. and Queensland will have trashed most of these models as the dryness means the tuning-pins sag prodigiously and render the pianos untuneable. Sadly, either extensive rebuilding or replacement of the instrument are the alternatives in these instances.
There are a number of Lipp grands out here, many dating from the 1880's or earlier. These have the older style non-capstan adjustable whippen/key assembly, and some of them are 3/4 iron-frame as well. I'd suggest that neither Bechstein or Bluthner had got their foothold in the Australian market at that time, as both are superior technologically. The tone can be quite fantastic however, especially of the mid-7-footer.
The "two-Crown" model referred to was produced, to the best of my knowledge, from around 1903 through to the Great Depression (and possibly later, but we don't see them). At their very best, simply one of the best upright pianos you will ever play, with a breadth and quality of tone not heard in most modern pianos. I have a client with a 1927 model. 88 years old and quite awesome ... so, with respect to others' experience, I'll just suggest that each of these older pianos should be judged on their own merits. Age is not always decisive.
I'm wary of going on and on, but for those surprised at what is 'Down Under' ... in the five years prior to WW1 Australia was the biggest export market in the world for German pianos, with as much as 90% in one particular year being German, and perhaps 80,000 pianos arriving in that period. Don't let anyone tell you WW1 wasn't a "trade war"!
Cyril Erlich's book "The Piano" is a great read for those interested.
Mike Hendry
Melbourne, Aust.
Topic: Who's heard of Richard Lipp & Sons?