Spinet/Console Definition; was: Appraisal Value

[Cliff Lesher]

How about those 36"-tall pianos with keysticks that, just aft of the  
balance pin, dive about 3 or 4 inches, their capstaned tail ends  
providing direct blow to the wippens.  Spinsoles?  Consets?

Oh, and don't forget the 36" Weavers with the key-end, rocker  
crowbars.   My name for them:  Out-of-control tail spin..ets.

To their credit, both types afford convenient action removal, making  
them more consolesque.

Cliff Lesher
Winfield, PA
_______________________________________
On Oct 26, 2007, at 9:47 PM, David Ilvedson wrote:

> Drop action=spinet.
> Action on keys/free hanging legs=console
> action on keys/legs attached to case at bottom=studio such as U1,  
> UST-7 and such
> Big=Upright
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
>
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Received: 10/26/2007 5:15:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Spinet/Console Definition; was: Appraisal Value
>
>
>>> If it's tall, with a full-blow action, it's not a spinet.
>
>> Well, I said "tall (for a spinet)". I'd guess it was close to 40  
>> inches tall - no shorter
>> than that. The music desk was level with the lid.
>
>> Not trying to split hairs or challenge anyone, but rather  
>> determine the definition of
>> spinet and console. To the best of my knowledge, there are two  
>> streams of piano
>> type definition defining four types of vertical pianos (spinet,  
>> console, studio upright
>> and upright) - the layperson's and the technical definitions. The  
>> layperson definition
>> is based strictly on how tall the piano is. My understanding is  
>> that the technical
>> definition of a spinet is that it has the drop action - whether or  
>> not it has the
>> compressed or full size action does not matter. A console does not  
>> have the drop
>> mechanism, i.e. the action sits on key capstans, but has a  
>> compressed-size action.
>> Then the studio upright has the full action directly on capstans  
>> and the upright has
>> the action either on capstans with riser extensions (think Yamaha  
>> U1 or U3), or the
>> stickers common in the old uprights.
>
>>> Even if it's
>>> console size, but has a drop action, it's a "drop-action  console."
>
>> Opinions on this? IMHO, if it has a drop action, it is a spinet.  
>> Or do we use five
>> classes on vertical pianos?
>
>>> If the
>>> rear ends of the keys (capstans) extend under the wippens, then  
>>> it's a
>>> console.
>
>> Well, if it has a compressed action. If it has a full size action,  
>> it would be a studio
>> upright.
>
>>> Yes, a dealer might ask $2K,
>
>> Right, which is why I defined "retail value" as what the dealer  
>> would ask for it....
>> Oops, I see I did not define "retail value". I meant to. Well, I  
>> guess there is another
>> question: Does the phrase "retail value" mean what a dealer would  
>> ask for it? I
>> thought that to be the case.
>
>>> but through the newspaper, between private
>>> parties, it might be hard to get more than $1200 - $1500 unless  
>>> the finish
>>> is really like new.
>
>> Agreed. If even close to that. I see the majority of pianos like  
>> this go for somewhere
>> between $500 and $1K in a private sale.
>
>>> (Looks always seem to matter more than the quality of
>>> the instrument)
>
>> LOL! Good point. So sad, but oh so true. That's why I told the  
>> lady that there would
>> easily be a $200 difference in the price of the piano if she were  
>> to be able to remove
>> the 39 or so glued-on letters on the middle keys (ABCDEFG).
>
>
>> Terry Farrell
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>    If it's tall, with a full-blow action, it's not a spinet.   
>>> Even if it's
>>> console size, but has a drop action, it's a "drop-action   
>>> console."  If the
>>> rear ends of the keys (capstans) extend under the wippens, then  
>>> it's a
>>> console.
>>>    Yes, a dealer might ask $2K, but through the newspaper,  
>>> between private
>>> parties, it might be hard to get more than $1200 - $1500 unless  
>>> the finish
>>> is really like new.  (Looks always seem to matter more than the  
>>> quality of
>>> the instrument)
>>>    --David Nereson, RPT
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> I'm looking for a reality check on the retail value of a 1983  
>>>> Baldwin
>>> spinet - midwest USA prices.
>>>
>>> It is a tall one (for a spinet) with the Baldwin full-blow  
>>> action. Case is
>>> good to very good, and mechanically the piano is in very good  
>>> condition - I
>>> would estimate that it has average to light wear for a piano its  
>>> age. The
>>> regulation is good.
>>>
>>> I'm guessing that a dealer would ask about $2k for such a beast.  
>>> Yes?
>>>
>>> Terry Farrell