<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Gregor,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>And (as I notice in Wikipedia) Münster has been the home of American artist Moondog since 1974 (!?). I briefly visited Enschede just over the border in the Netherlands a few years back to see the shop of a piano restorer builder there, whose name now escapes me; so I was pretty close to Münster, I see. It looks like it must be a very beautiful and historic city, indeed. Sounds like a great place to be a piano technician.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>That's very droll, the Märchen thing. One wonders whether they were clueless, or cynical, to call a piano that?</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Thanks for your very interesting posts.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Best regards,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Allen Wright, RPT</DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On 21 Feb 2007, at 09:02, Gregor _ wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Allen,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">seems to be usual to sell Asian pianos with a traditional German brand name. And if such a name is not available, they just invent some German sounding, e.g. Karl Otto Oskar Deutschmannshöfer or something like that. I saw Märchen which means fairy tale!</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The shop where I made my aprenticeship (started 1988 when the DDR still existed) sold these Blüthners made in the German Democratic Republic (DDR). I didn`t like them much, but they were much better than the other ones made in DDR.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I still live in Germany, in Münster. That´s near the Dutch border and 160 Km north of Cologne. Beautyful city with many pianos and many many bycicles. Winner of the Livcom Award 2004 as the most "liveable" community. Here´s a big university, many students, academics and public officials with a lot of pianos to tune.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Gregor</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">From: Allen Wright <<A href="mailto:akwright@btopenworld.com">akwright@btopenworld.com</A>></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Reply-To: Pianotech List <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">To: Pianotech List <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Subject: Re: J. Irmler decal</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:52:16 +0000</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Gregor,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Thanks for your very informative responses. That's really<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>interesting, the history timeline on the website; including a much<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>clearer picture of the factory! I presumed (after noticing that the<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>last serial number listing in the Pierce Atlas was 1953) that the<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>company must have made a brave effort after the war, and then been<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>thwarted by the difficulties under Communist rule. The website<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>history confirms this.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I spent today meticulously cleaning the soundboard and plate, and<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>making replacement hitch pin punchings and understring felt from<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Bechstein blue cloth. It's a nice coincidence that the piano is being<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>rebuilt on it's 100th birthday. I'll be very interested to find out<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>how it sounds with custom Abel hammers made for it.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Interesting and appropriate that Bluthner owns the name. It's a<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>little hard to tell whether the new Irmlers are made in Germany or<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Asia, from the site. It always seems a little poignant to me when<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>venerable old names like that, with long traditions, are taken over<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>and used to sell pianos that have no relationship (structurally or<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>aesthetically) to the originals (if these new ones are Asian-made,<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>that is). Nothing against Asian pianos, mind you - but why not start<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>a new tradition with a new name, like Pearl River and others?</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Are you still working in Europe (or the US, or elsewhere)?</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Best regards,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Allen Wright</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">London, UK</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">On 20 Feb 2007, at 13:41, Gregor _ wrote:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Irmler belongs to Blüthner now:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://www.bluthnerpiano.com/irmler.html">http://www.bluthnerpiano.com/irmler.html</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Gregor</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_________________________________________________________________</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! http:// toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_________________________________________________________________</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! <A href="http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/">http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></SPAN><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>