In a message dated 97-04-23 11:49:37 EDT, you write: >Piano is a Kingsbury 5' Baby Grand built in 1925. > >Has been refinished (walnut) and new keytops installed, but no new sharps. > >Hammers are worn. Most could be filed but about six are down to the wood. > >Bass strings somewhat tubby sounding but acceptable. > >Pins average tighteness. Pinblock not cracked > >Sound board has one crack, but it is tight and no rattle is apparent. > >Average wear on action. > >My first thought is to evaluate this instrument on a "What would it be worth >in mint condition" and then subtract the cost of the repairs necessary to >get it to that condition. > >I don't deal in piano sales enough to know what they are worth...particularly >the grands, baby grands. > >Would be interested in the lists opinion as to value. Just a ball park >figure. > >Thanks > >Dick Day Dick: The new finish will help the price, but the rest of the piano makes this one an average "run of the mill el cheapo". I would guess you could get around $2000 for it. Your thought of "What would it be worth in mint condition and then subtract the cost of the repairs necessary to get it to that condition" is a good way to try to get a figure, but in a case like this, the cost of total restoration is going to a lot more that the value of the instrument. It cost about as much to rebuild a Steinway, or Baldwin, (around $8000- $10,000) as it does to rebuild a Kingsbury, Starck or Howard baby grand (around $7,000 - $9,000). But just as with the new prices, the value of those pianos (around $5,000 rebuilt), is not any where near the value of the Steinway or Baldwin grand (around $10,000 - $15,000). Therefore you can't use your logic of subtracting the cost of rebuilding from the vlaue of the instrument. You'll come up with a negative number. Willem blees RPT St. Louis
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