Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I > [Original Message] > From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net> > To: James Grebe <jamesgrebe at charter.net> > Date: 12/30/2010 10:20:21 AM > Subject: Re: [pianotech] re Weber player grand > > James, > You may be talking to the wrong people, in your area. I, too, have a flourishing olde piano rebuilding shop. I have been rebuilding those "old beaters" for over 30 years. It has served me well. The ratio was 10 uprights to 1 grand, for many years. Now, it is more like 5 to 1, but still there is interest. My philosophy or "sales pitch" is that I can make an olde upright play and sound better than most new uprights on the market today! AND! Because of the original Beauty, it will look 10 times better than those Black Plastic POS's that some makers call pianos!! AND! I can do it for around HALF the price of those butt ugly things. ( I am including the better makers in this scenario<G>) > Your area might be different, but I doubt it. It just takes positive approach and skill to make them ole beaters be beautiful again. > Regards, > Joe > > Joe Garrett, R.P.T. > Captain of the Tool Police > Squares R I > > > > [Original Message] > > From: James Grebe <jamesgrebe at charter.net> > > To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org> > > Date: 12/30/2010 4:27:32 AM > > Subject: Re: [pianotech] re Weber player grand > > > > I get a lot of calls through my website about evaluating very old pianos > > whose owners think they are worth a lot of money. I keep telling them older > > is not better or more valuable. People are simply not buying very old > > pianos , at least in my area. I do not know how Chuck can have a steady > > stream of completely rebuilt old uprights that are bringing enough money to > > justify the work. In this area, if it is an upright , forget about selling > > it. People do not want these old pianos around. I am speaking for the > > general population. > > James > > James Grebe Est. 1962 > > Piano Tuner-Technician > > Creator of Custom Caster Cups > > Creator of fine Writing Instruments > > Pump Organ & Plyr Piano benches > > Table Timepieces > > Theatre and Theatre Organ Historian > > www.grebepiano.com > > 1526 Raspberry Lane > > Arnold, MO 63010 > > (314) 608-4137 > > Become what you believe > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net> > > To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org> > > Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 4:33 AM > > Subject: [pianotech] re Weber player grand > > > > > > > Rob said: > > > "I have a client who has an early 1900's Weber Grand Player Piano. They > > > want to sell it, however, it's been in long term storage. I'm working on > > > gaining access to the piano to get some better info and photos but it may > > > be a week or two. > > > > > > I am told it came around the Cape in South America to California just > > > after the turn of the century. It spent a large amount of time in a > > > mansion in Riverside, CA and has now been in a sealed and humidified > > > storage vault in Southern California for the last 20 years. > > > > > > I know I'm not going to get a hard value, or even close, until I can get a > > > good look at it, but I'm curious about the approximate value range and if > > > this piano has any intrinsic value beyond just being a piano. I don't know > > > much about this model and the rarity of it. Could it be a museum piece or > > > is it just a dime a dozen? > > > > > > Any insight or input is appreciated..." > > > > > > Rob, > > > I wish I was given $5.00 for every time I've heard.."it came around the > > > horn", I'd be a rich man! Sheesh! In over 35 years of dealing with > > > "antique piano clients", I've only had one client that could produce a > > > bill of lading from a ship, proving that it, in fact, did come around the > > > horn with all of the family's possessions. What ya need to understand is > > > that the Golden spike was driven around 1860's. No one, in their right > > > mind would ship a piano on a ship, when the darned railway system was > > > available. Just doesn't make sense. As for value, depends on the > > > condition. I have feeling it isn't in very good conditon. If it was > > > "interred" 20 years ago, it was, no doubt worn out, (or close to it), by > > > the 1990's! > > > Of course, there are a few "cream puffs" that were never played in those > > > "mansions in Riverside".<G> ;-0 > > > The reality on players is that there is a very narrow market for them. > > > Especially since the Disclaviers and such have hit the scene. The cost to > > > rebuild just the player mechanism is almost as much as rebuilding the rest > > > of the darned thing.. if the work is top grade, that is. Just my take on > > > this sort of thing. > > > (I suppose the Heckler's going to chime in and make me out as wrong and > > > that it can be rebuilt for less than $1,000.00!) Yeah, right. <G> > > > Regards, > > > Joe > > > > > > > > > Joe Garrett, R.P.T. > > > Captain of the Tool Police > > > Squares R I
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC