 The Victory Vertical piano with its transport box | |
| Keyboard instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | G.I. piano, G.I. Steinway |
| Classification | String |
| Developed | 1940s during World War II |
| Builders | |
The Victory Vertical also known as the G.I. piano[1] or G.I. Steinway[2] was a piano manufactured by Steinway & Sons for US troops in World War II. The company had been ordered to cease manufacture of pianos during the war, to reduce the use of war materials, but was asked, in 1942, to produce a model suitable for use by the US military.
The Victory Vertical was designed to be robust and small enough to travel by aircraft or ship. Its construction used just 10% of the metal required by a traditional piano and the components were designed for longevity. The piano was finished in olive drab, blue or grey paint dependent on the arm of the military it was intended for. Some 2,436 were produced for military users and a similar number for approved civilian locations such as churches, schools and hotels.
- ^ Siek, Stephen (10 November 2016). A Dictionary for the Modern Pianist. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-8108-8880-7.
- ^ Hall, Sophia Alexandra (5 May 2022). "During World War II Steinway pianos were parachuted onto battlefields to provide relaxation". Classic FM. Retrieved 3 July 2024.