CAUT

  • 1.  Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-19-2025 11:49

    Greetings from Rainy Oregon!!

    I am writing to inquire about the average age of your piano collections.  We at the U of Oregon are looking to up our game a bit with some new stock.  Currently we are hovering at about 40 years average age of the pianos.  It is a bit skewed in that there are a number of antique instruments in that average for instance the 1850s piano moves the average age of the pianos by about one year and we have several quite old but rebuilt Steinways that we will not give up for any reason.  We have also rebuilt several instruments since my joining the staff at the School of Music and Dance (SOMD).  Several of those instruments I consider "new" from the standpoint of condition but of course their chronological age is different.  

    So I am interested in the following:

    How many pianos do you have?

    What is the oldest/newest?

    What is the average age?

    Is it possibly skewed via older/rebuilt instruments.

    Thanks in advance for the responses.

    Mike Reiter

    Piano Technician

    U of O SOMD



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    Michael Reiter RPT
    Eugene OR
    (541) 515-6499
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  • 2.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-19-2025 12:54

    Hi Mike!

     

    I currently have about 130 pianos here.

    I have an assistant who helps me between semesters with all the tunings and does about 60% of them. (nice!)

     

    I'll have to check with my FileMaker Pro program, but I'm guessing about ½ of them are over 40 years old.  We have received some nice gifts of fully rebuilt Steinways over the past couple of years, one a Rosewood 1890's Steinway A, a Steinway M from 1923. Beautifully done, and a Mathusk baby grand, also rebult pretty well.

     

    Several are late 1980's when we had a new building built for us. We bought  a Steinway A for a master's only piano practice room and two D's for our main recital hall. We were also gifted with a brand new D "Spirio" for our new Jazz facility across the street. (really nice).

     

    Some relics in the library with an 1860's Steinway grand, some virginals, Harpsichords, walter copy forte piano and Shubert copy forte. (they tried to gain interest in the Walter and I did some reconditioning to it, but nobody ever played it, so back to the library with it!)

     

    Three functional haprpsichords (hardly used).

     

    I also care for the Koger center performing arts center pianos next door: 1 Steinway D, a Bosendorfer 7", Steinway B, Yamaha U3, and a 6' Boston grand...none over 30 years old.

    Need any more information?

     

    Best,

    Paul

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     






  • 3.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-27-2025 14:17

    Hi, Mike.

    We have 130 instruments here. The average age is 19.5 years. 

    Most are newer. Only a few older than 30 years, but they skew the curve. 

    82 Steinways were purchased new about 2011 to furnish the new building which opened in 2013 Five D's, 35 K52's, the rest are A's and B's

    All but 4 Steinways are average 13-14 years old. Four exceptions are grands: two @ 56 years, one at 60 and one at 96 (donation we had to take). 

    31 Bostons 21 - 22 years old, five o which are GP193 and the rest are UP126 and up118. 

    15 Yamahas: average 21.7 years: one C3 and one C2 DKV grand along with a mixture of verticals

    Hope this helps.

    Dave



    ------------------------------
    Dave Conte, RPT

    Piano Technician in Residence
    The University of Tennessee
    College of Music
    Knoxville TN
    (817) 307-5656
    Owner: Rocky Top Piano
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-28-2025 10:39

    Thank for the responses.  We are considering some changes to the collection and the above is most helpful.  

    One other question.  How many concert instruments do you have for your main performance area.  

    We currently have three, two Hamburg Ds and a fairly recent NY D.  We also have a Steinway B and Bosendorfer 225 (barely fits through the door!!!) and a D used for prepared piano.  The last one is our oldest instrument for concert work and still going strong.  Our stage is not very big for large productions so the necessity for smaller instruments.  

    Other comments?

    Thanks

    Mike



    ------------------------------
    Michael Reiter RPT
    Eugene OR
    (541) 515-6499
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-28-2025 10:52
    Mike,

    We have 2 D's in our building, one Hamburg and one NY.
    The artists get to pick. Both are about 12 year old. Neither is used for prepared piano. 

    There is a D in a large hall that is available for prepared piano
    and an A in a smaller ensemble room also available for prepared piano. 

    We have a NY D in the large auditorium in another building.
    It's about 15 years old. The Hamburg (above) used to be there too, but
    it was problematic to keep it there for a number of reasons. If we have
    prepared piano (which has not happened yet) in that auditorium, the 
    designated piano would be brought over. 

    Both stages are adequate for their intended purpose to accommodate 2 D's. 
    The smaller recital hall where the 2 D's are would not accommodate a full orchestra
    if the pianos were on stage. 
    --
    Dave Conte, RPT, CCT
    Owner, Rocky Top Piano
    Knoxville, TN
    817-307-5656





    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-28-2025 12:19

    Hi again, Mike.

    We have currently 1 Bozey 7"4" ( forget the size name), 2 D's in main recital hall(one new 5 years ago and one the other a retired Steinway Hall rental #290, a D in the Johnson Hall across the street, a D in the Koger Center, a brand new Spirio D in our new Jazz faciiity (donated!!) . All under 30 years old and wonderful instruments.

    2 other D's in ensemble rooms very tired and 40+ yrs old.

     

    Best,

    Paul

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-28-2025 15:38

    Hey Mike,

    I just went through a very similar cataloging process at Eastman in an effort to get funding for new pianos. I went through the whole PTG grading system, with mixed success. I focused on grands - we have 168 grand pianos, with an average age of 81 if you go by serial number. However, many of those pianos have been rebuilt, so that is definitely skewed. After I adjusted for pianos that I have record of being rebuilt, the average age went down to 66. I imagine it is actually more like 60, but that is still pretty old.

    Hope that helps.



    ------------------------------
    Robert Wilkinson RPT
    Rochester NY
    (706) 945-4496
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-01-2025 18:50

    Any D's for sale?



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    Parker Leigh RPT
    Winchester VA
    (540) 722-3865
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Average Age of Pianos

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-02-2025 05:21

    Parker

    One of my artists is selling his 70's D in very decent shape. New hammers installed about 10yrs ago ( Able hammers/shanks), but not by me.  I rebalanced the keyboard 2 yrs ago and action is nice and even.  He's looking for $50K

     

    Tom Servinsky 

    Registered Piano Technician

    Concert Artist Piano Technician

    Jazz Pianist for events

    tompiano@tomservinsky.com

    772 221 1011 office

    772 260 7110 cell

     




    Original Message