Posted: Thursday Oct 30, 14:02 PST Updated: Thursday Oct 30, 14:38 PST
Antique Upright Piano value
Nationwide
What is my antique upright piano worth?
Probably not much. Sorry for the bad news. From the 1880s through 1920, there were over 4,500 American manufacturers of pianos. Many of these piano builders made between hundreds and thousands of these “vertical grand” or “upright grand” pianos. There may have been millions of them manufactured and sold each year. There are literally millions of them still in existence. The problem is, in their hundred year life span, they are simply worn out. Most will not hold a tuning any longer, and a piano that won’t hold its tuning is no good to anyone.
To repair or restore one of these pianos costs more than the piano is worth after the repair. To replace the pinblock (to get it to hold a tuning) costs $950, but a rebuilder has to replace the strings and tuning pins as these can’t be re-used. Add the piano moving charges and tuning fees and you are well in excess of $3,500, after which the piano is worth maybe $800. Refinishing the case can cost $2,000 - $4,000, after which the piano now may be worth $2,500 - $3,500 after you have spent $7,000!
Besides being piano rebuilders, we’re the busiest piano mover in Virginia. As such, we haul 2 or 3 of these pianos to the landfill every month. Even the Salvation Army and other used goods resellers won’t take them as a donation. Churches and schools have been inundated over the years with offers.
These pianos may be beautiful, and they were once fine instruments, but if you are going to spend money on a piano, buy a good condition used one or a new piano. Also, be warned that unscrupulous piano restorers will tell you that your piano will worth $12,000 if only you spend $7,000 with them. Don’t believe it. We know. We’ve been restoring pianos for 101 years!
Charlottesville Piano 434-296-8886 http://www.charlottesvillepiano.com
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