The Queen Mary Piano (Heritage Trail)

[QueensFan]

But one other item was removed from QE2 but that's not headed for Queen Elizbath. That's going to

I know what I HOPE it is...but will it be...

Could the piano from QUEEN MARY be making its way to QUEEN MARY 2?

[Rob Lightbody]

Oh no. Please no. The Chart Room was created around that gorgeous piano, and I'm still hoping to sit there again someday, somewhere, enjoying it.

I'm finding it very hard to have my head in the sand with this cruising queens section here ... !

[QueensFan]

Oh no. Please no. The Chart Room was created around that gorgeous piano, and I'm still hoping to sit there again someday, somewhere, enjoying it.

I'm finding it very hard to have my head in the sand with this cruising queens section here ... !

From the stories I've heard, it was supposed to go to QM2 on her launch, for her Chart Room...but the QE2 crew fought to keep it on QE2.

Of course, nobody knew what would happen five years later...it ended up being a bit of a "cut off your nose to spite your face" thing.

[cunardqueen]

  From the stories I've heard, it was supposed to go to QM2 on her launch, for her Chart Room...but the QE2 crew fought to keep it on QE2.
 

On one of the rare heritage tours l did some years ago, the guide explained the piano was so fragile that it really couldnt be moved... 

[QueensFan]

On one of the rare heritage tours l did some years ago, the guide explained the piano was so fragile that it really couldnt be moved... 

I've heard that as well...though considering that, I do wonder how it handled being shaken around in rough seas...

I also wonder...in a similar qunadary as we're discussing today with QE2...how did that piano get from Queen Mary to QE2? Was it something Cunard retained ownership of for the next ship, like they have in the things mentioned above on QE, or was it taken on loan/sale from Long Beach at some point after QM was sold to them?

From what I recall, it wasn't on QE2 until 1994. If it were on loan from Long Beach, did the ownership at some point transfer to Cunard? Or is there, in fact, property of the City of Long Beach sitting in Dubai, the loanees of which no longer own the vessel holding it?

[highlander0108]

I've heard that as well...though considering that, I do wonder how it handled being shaken around in rough seas...

I also wonder...in a similar qunadary as we're discussing today with QE2...how did that piano get from Queen Mary to QE2? Was it something Cunard retained ownership of for the next ship, like they have in the things mentioned above on QE, or was it taken on loan/sale from Long Beach at some point after QM was sold to them?

From what I recall, it wasn't on QE2 until 1994. If it were on loan from Long Beach, did the ownership at some point transfer to Cunard? Or is there, in fact, property of the City of Long Beach sitting in Dubai, the loanees of which no longer own the vessel holding it?

From what I recall, the piano was a spare piano from Queen Mary.  Apparently, there were a slew of pianos available to replace ones damaged on particular rough crossings.  This one was found in a wearhouse long after she was decommissioned and it made its way onto QE2 in the refit.  Flagship can fill in the particulars when he is not so busy with the new cruiser. 

[Michael Gallagher]

I think we should all remember that in life "There are more questions than answers". Or there are "questions that will not be answered"!

However... the piano has a fascinating story! In 1992 (or 1991) Cunard received a phone call from someone in Southampton who had just bought a house saying he thought there was a piano from the Queen Mary in his new shed. Cunard could have it back if they restored it - and removed a bird that had taken up its nest in it!! That's what was done. How the piano ever ended up in the shed is a mystery. As I say, there are more questions than answers!

[Twynkle]

I think we should all remember that in life "There are more questions than answers". Or there are "questions that will not be answered"!

Lovely story about Queen Mary's piano!

Now - about QE2's Bell
Please may I ask a fairly innocent question?
Doesn't / Didn't the new Queen Elizabeth have one of her own...?
(Like she didn't have a call sign until you managed to fix it between QE2 and the new Queen Elizabeth...)
I shall understand if this is a question 'that will not be answered' - but will much appreciate it if you can!

[pete cain]

This might not be a new topic, & I post safe in the reassurance our mods will sort this out, but I have been searching for piccys for the Dining Room phopo comp, & found this photo of 'the piano' , I'm sure we've all seen it  (God knows what condition the poor thing is in now!), but has anybody heard it being played , what did it sound like?.
 The times I was on board it was just part of the scenery,

[Stowaway2k]

Often heard it played by one of QE2's "Pianists-in-residence". 

[Bob Flett]

Does anyone know if it’s still there and if so in what condition please ?

[Twynkle]

This might not be a new topic, & I post safe in the reassurance our mods will sort this out, but I have been searching for piccys for the Dining Room phopo comp, & found this photo of 'the piano' , I'm sure we've all seen it  (God knows what condition the poor thing is in now!), but has anybody heard it being played , what did it sound like?.
 The times I was on board it was just part of the scenery,

Hi Pete
I'm sure that someone was playing this in the Chart Room - 2005!

And in answer to Bob Flett's question - I thought we had a topic regarding Queen Mary's Piano here on TQS - and after a while, Flagship wrote something about the Piano being found in a garden shed in Southampton..
Sincerely hope this wasn't part of a dream - having just spent a few minutes trying to trace conversations here about the piano, I'm beginning to think my already rather pathetic mind's going badly off course!
Hello Michael - any chance of redemption here - please!?

[Rob Lightbody]

...I thought we had a topic regarding Queen Mary's Piano here on TQS - and after a while, Flagship wrote something about the Piano being found in a garden shed in Southampton..

Found it! 

I think we should all remember that in life "There are more questions than answers". Or there are "questions that will not be answered"!

However... the piano has a fascinating story! In 1992 (or 1991) Cunard received a phone call from someone in Southampton who had just bought a house saying he thought there was a piano from the Queen Mary in his new shed. Cunard could have it back if they restored it - and removed a bird that had taken up its nest in it!! That's what was done. How the piano ever ended up in the shed is a mystery. As I say, there are more questions than answers!

[Bob van Leeuwen]

That would mean that is was taking off the ship during Cunard service, or else moving it from the US to the UK would have drawn some attention if it was sold from the Ship after she was opened.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

That would mean that is was taking off the ship during Cunard service, or else moving it from the US to the UK would have drawn some attention if it was sold from the Ship after she was opened.

I have merged some earlier posts into this topic (thank you, Rob, for having pointed me in the right direction!), and you may find that this answers your question :

From what I recall, the piano was a spare piano from Queen Mary.  Apparently, there were a slew of pianos available to replace ones damaged on particular rough crossings.  This one was found in a wearhouse long after she was decommissioned and it made its way onto QE2 in the refit.  Flagship can fill in the particulars when he is not so busy with the new cruiser.