Value of an old steinway vertical

Greg Granoff gjg2@humboldt.edu
Wed, 21 Apr 2004 11:30:22 -0700


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Lance,
Some inquiring minds want to know just what IS optical epoxy, where you =
can get it, and what is your procedure?  Mind filling us in?
Thanks!

Greg Granoff   RPT
Humboldt State University
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: llafargue=20
  To: 'College and University Technicians'=20
  Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 6:04 AM
  Subject: RE: Value of an old steinway vertical


  I have 2 Steinway uprights (early 1900's) and plan to inject water =
thin optical epoxy (EPOTEK), redrill and restring.  I have done this on =
several uprights and grands where replacing was not an option.  Works =
great.  Nice feel.

  =20

  Lance Lafargue, RPT

  LAFARGUE PIANOS

  New Orleans Chapter, PTG

  985.72P.IANO

  llafargue@charter.net

  =20

  -----Original Message-----
  From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of =
Bdshull@aol.com
  Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 12:31 PM
  To: caut@ptg.org
  Subject: Re: Value of an old steinway vertical

  =20

  Hi Ed,=20

  I agree with Dale about this.  Here in Southern California an 1890's =
Steinway upright might still have a decent pinblock if the piano lived =
in this climate most of its life, similar to the piano Dale restored.  A =
few real clean examples exist, valuing those is tough since they are so =
nice, and should fetch more, perhaps quite a bit more....=20

  Original bass strings can be incredible on a Steinway, with even the =
steel-wound strings coming out great after turning, a rare event for =
that type of winding.  =20

  Yes, "ebonized" was common in 19th century pianos, if the plate is =
clean and undamaged the word will be stamped.  Also the Steinway log =
will say (sadly, one volume was stolen from Steinway recently, and =
wasn't photocopied, a terrible loss).  =20

  Bill Shull=20

  Shull Piano Inc.=20
  590 E Industrial Rd 2=20
  San Bernardino, CA  92408=20
  (909) 796-4226=20

  In a message dated 4/19/04 6:24:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time, =
Erwinspiano@aol.com writes:=20





  hi Ed=20
   Don't panic yet.  I paid $250.00 for an 1891 from the Manteca unified =
school district about 8 years ago. It was Bahama yellow with pretty =
flowers & about to fall over. Its is the one with a myriad of ogees =
elegant three piece front & the round fluted legs. The block, board & =
many things were quite good. The board has a lot of crown still. =
Amazing.Restrung with 3s or 4s,refinish,yes in original ebony, replace =
the missing three piece cut outs new keytops. Very beautiful looking& =
sounding. If I did this today I'd ask 15 k.=20
    My opinion is that stwy uprights like this are worth anywhere =
between $500.000 to $1500.00 in original & unbutchered condition. Hey do =
the math on the items needed then speculate on the Market value in your =
area.hmmm.=20
   Dale Erwin=20




  Dear List-=20

  I'm dealing with a difficult situation with a customer who has =
purchased an 1892 Steinway vertical on Ebay.=20

  The piano has been restrung in the plain wire and repinned in the =
bass, "turning the bass strings."  The repinning was done with 4/0 pins =
with apparently no preparation of the holes in the pinblock.  Pin torque =
varies wildly, with many high treble pins over 225 inch pounds.  I =
cannot imagine now how to restring properly without replacing the =
pinblock.  =20

  Raising pitch 80 cents and tuning was miserably difficult, perhaps =
tuning will be manageable when the strings have stabilized....?=20

  Refinishing is a thin black lacquer (were 1890's verticals done in =
ebony?), and the brass lock plate and pedals have been carefully =
polished.=20

  Hammers have been re-shaped past regulation, key pins turned in the =
front bushings, and key covers glued to fit the notch, with the tips =
overhanging, and no shaping.=20

  The customer had hopes of buying a piano that would become a family =
heirloom.  The seller told her the old bass strings were so good that =
they didn't need replacement, and that she could eventually complete the =
restoration with new hammers and dampers.=20

  I would be interested in your opinions of what is the going value of =
an 1892 Steinway vertical, rebuilt to very good playing and tuning =
condition, and what the purchase price of the instrument as it is should =
be.=20

  Also I would appreciate your comments on the pinblock.=20

  Thank you very much.=20

  Ed Sutton=20






  Erwins Pianos Restorations=20
  4721 Parker Rd.=20
  Modesto, Ca 95357=20
  209-577-8397=20
  Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales=20
  www.Erwinspiano.com=20

  =20


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