Pianotech

I was called in to tune this 1896 Steinway upright today. Sorry, but I don't know the model. I believe it was purchased new. Current owner, at just over 90 years old, has owned it her entire life. Last tuned at least two years ago. I was shocked to find that it almost didn't need tuning. Nothing broken and every note plays acceptably. However, the pins for two notes in the middle are holding on for dear life and could slip at any moment. Several others are iffy at best. It was those two notes that prompted the owner to call me in the first place. Everything is clean and the piano has obviously been well maintained but nobody knows if it has ever received any service beyond tuning. Anyway, is this piano of any historical value? Is it worth rebuilding? For that matter, is it worth anything at all? Owners son wants to know. 



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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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Historical value, no -- unless the owner is somebody _really_ famous :)

If he wants to try cashing in by having it rebuilt and then selling it... that's a really sketchy proposal.  I know rebuilt Steinways sell well in general, but I just don't imagine too many people are looking to pay $10,000+ for a giant vertical -- even with a famous name on the fallboard.  If he wants to rebuild it and keep it for sentimental value, sure it'll be great.  Might want to look at upgrading to a better music desk design, as that style is kinda puny.  I think S&S abandoned it for something else not too long afterwards.

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Nathan Monteleone
Fort Worth TX
817-675-9494
nbmont@gmail.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2020 21:06
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

I was called in to tune this 1896 Steinway upright today. Sorry, but I don't know the model. I believe it was purchased new. Current owner, at just over 90 years old, has owned it her entire life. Last tuned at least two years ago. I was shocked to find that it almost didn't need tuning. Nothing broken and every note plays acceptably. However, the pins for two notes in the middle are holding on for dear life and could slip at any moment. Several others are iffy at best. It was those two notes that prompted the owner to call me in the first place. Everything is clean and the piano has obviously been well maintained but nobody knows if it has ever received any service beyond tuning. Anyway, is this piano of any historical value? Is it worth rebuilding? For that matter, is it worth anything at all? Owners son wants to know.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

I tuned my mother's 1875 Steinway upright last month. It's A 440 and sounds like a grand piano. About 30 years ago I cleaned and re-twisted all the bass strings and regulated  the action.  Loose tuning pins? I just hammer them in if there's a n 8th inch between the coil and the pinblock. It's just a very good piano. "Antique" doesn't mean much.  Sometimes "antique" means old and useless. If it looks good, hold its tune, and sounds good, it's a great piano.  Find Pianos and their Makers by Alfred Dolge (1911).  He starts with keyboards 1,000 ??years ago. All the names we see every day (even some oriental brands like Knabe, Baldwin, etc) have guys who experimented, tried and failed, tried and succeeded and resulted in what we work on every day. It 's an amazing bunch of TRUE STORIES. The stories about the Steinway sons is amazing. They all died in their 50's because they never quit WORKING  to improve their prodcuct and their sales.  That book is available in reprints for a modest price. 
Bill Klein Piano
(650) 678-9680

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William Klein
Redwood City CA
650-678-9680
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2020 21:06
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

I was called in to tune this 1896 Steinway upright today. Sorry, but I don't know the model. I believe it was purchased new. Current owner, at just over 90 years old, has owned it her entire life. Last tuned at least two years ago. I was shocked to find that it almost didn't need tuning. Nothing broken and every note plays acceptably. However, the pins for two notes in the middle are holding on for dear life and could slip at any moment. Several others are iffy at best. It was those two notes that prompted the owner to call me in the first place. Everything is clean and the piano has obviously been well maintained but nobody knows if it has ever received any service beyond tuning. Anyway, is this piano of any historical value? Is it worth rebuilding? For that matter, is it worth anything at all? Owners son wants to know.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

If the son has fond memories of his mom playing this piano, and would be benefited by bringing it back to life, then that can be all the historical value needed to put significant money into it. If not, then its just another old SS upright like so many others. I think they're great pianos. Not everyone agrees though. I have three of them. 

Pwg

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2020 18:09
From: William Klein
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

I tuned my mother's 1875 Steinway upright last month. It's A 440 and sounds like a grand piano. About 30 years ago I cleaned and re-twisted all the bass strings and regulated  the action.  Loose tuning pins? I just hammer them in if there's a n 8th inch between the coil and the pinblock. It's just a very good piano. "Antique" doesn't mean much.  Sometimes "antique" means old and useless. If it looks good, hold its tune, and sounds good, it's a great piano.  Find Pianos and their Makers by Alfred Dolge (1911).  He starts with keyboards 1,000 ??years ago. All the names we see every day (even some oriental brands like Knabe, Baldwin, etc) have guys who experimented, tried and failed, tried and succeeded and resulted in what we work on every day. It 's an amazing bunch of TRUE STORIES. The stories about the Steinway sons is amazing. They all died in their 50's because they never quit WORKING  to improve their prodcuct and their sales.  That book is available in reprints for a modest price.
Bill Klein Piano
(650) 678-9680

------------------------------
William Klein
Redwood City CA
650-678-9680

Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2020 21:06
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

I was called in to tune this 1896 Steinway upright today. Sorry, but I don't know the model. I believe it was purchased new. Current owner, at just over 90 years old, has owned it her entire life. Last tuned at least two years ago. I was shocked to find that it almost didn't need tuning. Nothing broken and every note plays acceptably. However, the pins for two notes in the middle are holding on for dear life and could slip at any moment. Several others are iffy at best. It was those two notes that prompted the owner to call me in the first place. Everything is clean and the piano has obviously been well maintained but nobody knows if it has ever received any service beyond tuning. Anyway, is this piano of any historical value? Is it worth rebuilding? For that matter, is it worth anything at all? Owners son wants to know.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

I honestly don't think the son has any emotional attachment to this piano at all. Because it is so old I thought it may have some historical significance and might actually be worthy of evaluation and some work to make it wonderful for the next owner. Make a couple of bucks for the son. I have received a number of offline replies that I think that this piano might be worth a second look just because. I am moving forward with that thought.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2020 19:24
From: Peter Grey
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

If the son has fond memories of his mom playing this piano, and would be benefited by bringing it back to life, then that can be all the historical value needed to put significant money into it. If not, then its just another old SS upright like so many others. I think they're great pianos. Not everyone agrees though. I have three of them.

Pwg

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2020 18:09
From: William Klein
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

I tuned my mother's 1875 Steinway upright last month. It's A 440 and sounds like a grand piano. About 30 years ago I cleaned and re-twisted all the bass strings and regulated  the action.  Loose tuning pins? I just hammer them in if there's a n 8th inch between the coil and the pinblock. It's just a very good piano. "Antique" doesn't mean much.  Sometimes "antique" means old and useless. If it looks good, hold its tune, and sounds good, it's a great piano.  Find Pianos and their Makers by Alfred Dolge (1911).  He starts with keyboards 1,000 ??years ago. All the names we see every day (even some oriental brands like Knabe, Baldwin, etc) have guys who experimented, tried and failed, tried and succeeded and resulted in what we work on every day. It 's an amazing bunch of TRUE STORIES. The stories about the Steinway sons is amazing. They all died in their 50's because they never quit WORKING  to improve their prodcuct and their sales.  That book is available in reprints for a modest price.
Bill Klein Piano
(650) 678-9680

------------------------------
William Klein
Redwood City CA
650-678-9680

Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2020 21:06
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: 1896 Steinway upright

I was called in to tune this 1896 Steinway upright today. Sorry, but I don't know the model. I believe it was purchased new. Current owner, at just over 90 years old, has owned it her entire life. Last tuned at least two years ago. I was shocked to find that it almost didn't need tuning. Nothing broken and every note plays acceptably. However, the pins for two notes in the middle are holding on for dear life and could slip at any moment. Several others are iffy at best. It was those two notes that prompted the owner to call me in the first place. Everything is clean and the piano has obviously been well maintained but nobody knows if it has ever received any service beyond tuning. Anyway, is this piano of any historical value? Is it worth rebuilding? For that matter, is it worth anything at all? Owners son wants to know.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------