These instruments were comparatively inexpensive, relatively small and, were promoted as being a massive status symbol. The aforementioned Model 235 is classified as a symmetrical grand because it has 4 legs, but this model is now widely accepted as a Butterfly Grand. The launch of WurlitzerвЂ™s new piano at the 35th Music Merchants Convention, New York, 1937. After the war Wurlitzer focussed on the electric piano, based on the designs of B.F. Production of these pianos only ran from 1936 to 1939. Wurlitzer also built a 44-note entry-level Butterfly Piano for the education market.

Most had 73 notes, although the company did produce an вЂњArt DeluxeвЂќ model (the Butterfly Grand Style 1411) with 88 notes. The company released several models in different styles including Art Deco, and Louis XV. It was, however, the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company that took the symmetrical grand piano and turned it into the Butterfly Grand. The upright grand was designed for use in a small orchestra where floor space is strictly limited. Both these have a vertically-mounted symmetrical frame, but the former has the apex sitting on the floor, whilst the latter has the frame rotated and sat just above the keyboard. Other variants include the Perpendicular Grand and the Orchestral Upright Grand. Orchestral Upright Grand Piano, c1950 (L) and Perpendicular Grand Piano c1934 (R). Manufacturers such as Strohmenger, with their half-moon shaped baby grands, were delivering contemporary instruments that perfectly complemented this design ethos. However, it was the Art Deco movement of the 1920s and 30s that fuelled demand for these instruments. Symmetrical grand pianos first appeared around the 1880s, with manufacturers such as Hugo Sohmer at the design forefront. Originally symmetrical grands had lids hinged parallel to the keyboard but these are rather less pleasing in appearance, and the sound is reflected away from the player. With the two вЂњwingsвЂќ raised, the bass notes tend to emanate to the left and the treble notes to the right. Photo: Great GatsbyвЂ™s Auction Gallery.ДЄnd so, with this basic symmetrical design, the lid can be hinged down the middle and the butterfly effect created. Wurlitzer Model 235 Butterfly piano with the bass вЂњwingвЂќ removed. Read more about string length and inharmonicity here. Even so, the bass strings will still not deliver the timbral quality of a traditional grand piano. The longer bass strings arenвЂ™t therefore needed, and the instrument can be made more compact. The casework of the symmetrical grand restricts the length of the bass strings, and this can lead to inharmonicity (unwanted overtones) when thicker strings are used to compensate for length.ДЄ common solution is to simply reduce the span of the keyboard, and that is why most symmetrical grands have 73, not 88 notes. That is why a standard grand piano has its customary shape-a straight bass-side, and a curved S-shaped treble-side. To get the best sound from a piano the strings need to be as long as possible with, of course, the bass strings being the longest. They are attractive to look at but the symmetrical grand is to some extent a compromised instrument.

They get their name from the two-part вЂњwingedвЂќ lid which gives the piano a butterfly-like appearance. Most, but not all, butterfly pianos are symmetrical grands. After 29 bids the piano sold for US$6,500, somewhat exceeding expectations! So what is going on here, and what is a butterfly piano? Photo: Great GatsbyвЂ™s Auction Gallery Symmetrical Grand Pianos

It had an estimated value of US$1,000 вЂ“ US$1,200. A few days ago a nice example of a Wurlitzer Model 235 Butterfly Piano sold at Great GatsbyвЂ™s вЂњA Lifetime Collection at AuctionвЂќ sale.

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