Vintage Pianos . . . got one?

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I just picked up an old 56" Schubert upright the other day and what a neat old piano. After plunking on a spinet for awhile it sure sounds good. It's no showpiece, a little rough and 100% original, but all the keys and pedals work and it sounds remarkably good.



I had fun dating it this week, I found a serial number then located a piano "dating service" online. They researched it and came back with "Built 3rd quarter of 1907, New York, NY. " Cool. It has a seal commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America, and another label, "Upright Grand. "



With so many members on TDR, I'm sure a few of you play the piano (or like myself, like to think you can play the piano). If any of you have an piano oldie, tell us a little about it



I've been doing some research and there are some gorgeous old pianos out there. It looks like restoration is big business. Pianos were churned out by the hundreds of thousands annually in their heyday between 1880 and 1930, so there's tons of them around. The better brands are built so well there is little you can buy today that is higher quality. They recommend restoration of a good old one and you'll end up with a much better piano for a lot less $$ than purchasing new.



Here's an interesting link



http://www.pianorestoring.com/





A grand old centurian I would like to take home with me, a 1905 Newman Brothers 56"



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Vaughn

 

[klenger]

Very nice.

 

[Jhillmann]

My wife bought a 1912 Ivers and Pond studio grand in 1983. With restoration the final cost was $1800. a new one of similar quality and size at the time was $10,000. That old piano is still in good condition after almost 20 years of hard use by piano students.

 

[nickleinonen]

we have an old piano in the kitchen [don't ask... ] that is dated 1918 or something like that. . i remember learning how to play on that [can't play anymore though ]