That Time When America Air-Dropped Pianos For Troops in Battlefields

You thought pianos dropping from the sky is a gag for cartoons? Then hear this story out. During World War Two, all kinds of production involving metals, such as iron, copper, and brass, that was non-essential to the war effort were halted by the American government, because these metals were needed to make guns, tanks, and artillery. Many musical instrument makers were affected by the new regulations, which meant that either they had to manufacture something else the military could use, or wait for the war to end, which was as good as going out of business. Soldiers gather around a field piano for a little close harmony at a demonstration at Fort Meade, Maryland, the US. Steinway & Sons, one of the “Big Four” piano makers whose legacy went back a solid ninety years (at the time war broke out over Europe), was also affected by the restrictions. Instead of shutting down their factory, Steinway decided to bid their time manufacturing coffins and parts for troop transport gliders. Likewise, the Baldwin Piano Company made wooden airplane wings and the Gibson Guitar Company made wooden toys. These ventures were hardly profitable, but at least it provided the company some semblance of a running operation. Steinway’s patience was rewarded when the US Military granted them a contract to make heavy-duty military pianos for commissioned officers. By June 1942, Steinway’s workers had designed a small upright piano, no more than forty inches wide and weighing 455 pounds—light enough to be carried by four soldiers. Each piano was treated with special anti-termite and anti-insect solution and sealed with water-resistant glue to withstand dampness. Ivory keys were coated with white celluloid to protect them tropical climates, and soft iron was used instead of copper for windings on the bass strings. The best part was— the piano used only 33 pounds of metal, about a tenth as much as a typical grand piano.