Value of an old steinway vertical

Garret E. Traylor traylorg@equaltemperament.com
Wed, 21 Apr 2004 21:02:19 -0400


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Lance,
Who is your supplier of (EPOTEK)?
Garret
Garret Traylor
garret@highpointpiano.com
http://www.highpointpiano.com/pages/caut.html

  -----Original Message-----
  From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
llafargue
  Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 9:04 AM
  To: 'College and University Technicians'
  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.



  Lance Lafargue, RPT

  LAFARGUE PIANOS

  New Orleans Chapter, PTG

  985.72P.IANO

  llafargue@charter.net



  -----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



  Hi Ed,

  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....

  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.

  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).

  Bill Shull

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

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





  hi Ed
   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.
    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.
   Dale Erwin




  Dear List-

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

  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.

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

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

  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.

  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.

  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.

  Also I would appreciate your comments on the pinblock.

  Thank you very much.

  Ed Sutton






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



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