Pleyel / Hans upright piano, Paris / Wasmuël, 1920

In 1917, the engineer and musician Pierre Hans from Liège invents the ‘Hans keyboard’. He asked for the help of Pleyel in Paris to build these instruments. The possibilities of this new piano were taught at the conservatories of Antwerp, Brussels, Liège and Maastricht (NL). After the second world war the Hans keyboard was forgotten. Most remaining instruments are grand pianos. Remarkable for the piano in display is that it belonged to the inventor himself. In 2010 Chris Maene bought the instrument from the Hans family.

Technical data:

• Inscription: Pleyel clavier Hans
• Compass: 1st keyboard : 7 octaves (AAA-a'''') / 2nd keyboard : 6 octaves and 6 notes (AAA-g'''')
• Keyboard: naturals in white plastic, sharps in ebony
• Pedals: 2: una corda - forte
• Dimensions: W 154 cm / D 73 cm / H 132 cm
• Case: rosewood
• Serial number: 174454
• Chris Maene Collection number: CM 44 209
• Location: 1 - Museum "Piano's Maene" Brussels