Holy Steinway M!

[Wimblees@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-02-24 20:39:42 EST, you write:

>Help!  Tuned a 1929 Steinway M (Serial #M268519) for a lady the other
>day - hammers, bridge, all the vitals in good condition.  When I
>finished, she asked me "what do you think my piano is worth?"  
>Having appraised upright pianos in the past too numerous to count, I
>have never been asked to appraise a Steinway.  The information I have on
>piano appraisals gets kind of mushy when dealing with Steinways saying
>that "depending on the condition of a Steinway, you could easily double
>the appraised value of a lesser brand."  
>
>  Well, I've been in this business long enough to know not to insult
>someone about their pianos worth.  She called Steinway and got a "ball
>park" estimate of her pianos worth.
>
>  Any help would be appreciated here (for I would like to keep her as a
>customer).  Again, the piano is in above average-good condition.  She
>wants the appraisal for insurance purposes.  
>
>Thanks in advance.  
>                                         Jim 
>                                         Fayetteville, GA
>
>


Jim:

The ball park figure she got from Steinway should be enough, especially for
insurance purposes. When I do an appraisal for insurance purposes, I not only
give a value of the piano in its current condition, but I include the price of
a brand new one according to the Ancott book, which states a new Steinway M is
worth $34,600 in ebony.

Willem Blees  RPT
St. Louis