Appraisal of Chickering concert Grand

[dempsey@MARSHALL.EDU]

List,

I always hate it when someone asks me to give an opinion of a piano that I
haven't had the oportunity to examine and I know you do too, but I'm going
to ask anyway;-)

I have been asked to give an appraisal and a quote for "repairs" on a very
old Chickering concert Grand Piano. The S.N. is 3774. According to the
Pierce Atlas the DOM is 1835 to 1840.
Provenance for this piano is sketchy at best. It is not in it's original
condition, having been "rebuilt" 25 years ago. This is a guess, as no one
seems to know for sure. The work that was done was by someone who clearly
was skilled and  knew what they were doing. However, it has fallen upon
hard times and has not been touched in YEARS.

Here are the particulars:
1. 9' Concert Grand (Chickering)
2. Rosewood Case with all original case parts
3. Ornately carved legs(original) with much carving decoration. Square
tail.
4. Straight strung with 17 wound bass unisons. All plain wires are single
tied.
5. 88 notes- agraffes all the way to the top.
6. Bridges appear to be in remarkable condition- no checkng or splits
7. Was restung with new strings, pins and pinblock (see above).Pins are
currently tight.
8. Original Soundboard- has numerous shims (very well done) no aparent
subsequent cracks.No downbearing data available as yet.
9. Was refinished. Probably attractive when it was re-done 
 but pretty yucky now.
10. Action- new keytops, bushings,hammershanks,hammers,damperfelts, etc.

Currently the action regulation is abysmal and it is a whole tone flat.

As you have probably guessed, in my part of the world there are_at least_
2 or 3 old  Chickering concert grands up every holler ;-)

Seriously, I have NO benchmark to work with here. Would any of you care to
venture a guess as to the value of this piano, in your market perhaps, as
it sits now. What would be a reasonable evaluation should it be brought
back into first class order? 

Any help or advice is appriciated.



 Paul E. Dempsey, RPT
Marshall University 
Huntington, WV