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[Les Smith]

On Thu, 22 Feb 1996, yenniet wrote:

>                       Subject:                              Time:  7:24 AM
>   OFFICE MEMO         None                                  Date:  2/22/96
>
> Good morning all!!
>
> I'm back!!  :  )    Has anybody got a ballpark guess for the worth of a Fisher
> Upright with sostenuto and lost motion rod.  1912 Vintage.  Cabinet is fair,
> board is solid and wrestplank is tight, I am rebuilding the action (hammers,
> tapes, buckskin on butts, catchers and sos tabs.  Any thoughts or should I
> group it with the dime a dozen pile.  I thought since it had a sostenuto
> mechanism and lost motion "compensating rod" it might be worth a couple more
> bucks than the average 80+ year old piano.
>
> Thane Yennie
> Assoc. PTG
> Green River, Wy.
>
Hi, Thane. My guess is that it would bring about $600, perhaps a little bit
more, in it's present condition--that is before you complete your work.
There just isn't much of a market for old uprights like that, despite the
fact the the old J&C's were well-built instruments. Additionally most people
who would be in the market for an old upright wouldn't know the difference
between a "lost motion compensator mechanism" and a "sostenuto mechanism"
to save their lives, even though a technician like yourself can readily ap-
preciate their presence in an upright piano.

One thing you might want to check out closely on this piano is it's bass
bridge. What you're looking for are cracks and loose bridge pins which
make putting a stable tune on the bass strings problematic at best. Quite
a common problem on old Fischers. Also, sneak a peek under the keys. Fischer
continued using brass key pins longer than just about anybody. I have always
thought them to be a classy touch when I find them in an old piano.

Sorry that I couldn't be more optomistic in my valuation of the piano!

Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net