Rippen 185 – Lightweight aluminium grand with Renner action

This special Rippen grand (185 cm) combines a polished aluminium casing in the style of the 1950s with an unusually low weight of about 210 kg.
The case and the frame are made from a single combined cast aluminium part, which makes the instrument noticeably lighter than conventional grands.
The soundboard is built as a multi-layer spruce construction, giving the piano good climatic stability.
The action comes from Renner; the hammer heads were reprofiled and the action was adjusted. In addition, the keys and all visible brass parts have been refurbished and polished.
The instrument has 88 keys and two pedals.
In this special design, these grands were manufactured roughly between 1950 and 1970; this example was recently exhibited at the Zeppelin Museum.
Thanks to Pieter Verhulst for the supplied photos and information.