Central Business District in Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
World’s Largest Chime Foot Piano
Verdin
The chimes themselves are historic. They were installed in 1946 in a church in central Pennsylvania and later saved from the wrecking ball by Jim Verdin. These rare, bronze tubular chimes were originally manufactured by Deagan Chime of Chicago. The unusual shape of the chimes reflects the harmonic tuning of each chime. The Deagan company was purchased by Verdin in 1973.
Verdin has a long history with the site of the park. Their first factory, built in 1842, was located blocks away, at 123 Broadway, the current site of Great American Ballpark. The Foot Piano was fabricated in their current factory in Cincinnati’s East End, just a few miles from the park. The Verdin Company manufactures bronze bells, street clocks, tower clocks and carillons, and these have been installed at over 50,000 sites all over the world.
The piano is designed to play pre-recorded music and to sound on the hour. Most of the time it can be played with your feet.
To operate the keyboard, press your full weight with the ball of your foot in the center of the black or white circular medallions then fully remove your weight.
The Piano generally operates from 10 am to 11 pm and is closed in the winter.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.
Location. 39° 5.722′ N, 84° 30.643′ W. Marker is in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton County. It is in the Central Business District. Marker can be reached from Ohio Route 52. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cincinnati OH 45202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John A. Roebling Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Emery and Kroger Historic Foundation Walls (within shouting distance of this marker); 1 West Vine Street (within shouting distance of this marker); About the Labyrinth (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Black Brigade of Cincinnati (about 600 feet away); Harriet Tubman - The Beacon Of Hope (about 700 feet away); The Berlin Wall (about 700 feet away); Johnny Lee Bench (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cincinnati.
More about this marker. The marker is located in Smale Riverfront Park, just to the west of the Roebling Suspension Bridge.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 394 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.