A long informative story.

[Frank Weston]

In an effort to placate those are angry with me, and to amuse and
entertain those who are not, I provide this offering, which is not only
"chatty", but also contains useful information.


A 1911 Steinway A has just come into my workshop and is my next
restoration project.  It’s a good piano, but the most interesting thing
about it is that the previous owner was a fanatical record keeper.  He
was employed by the IRS, and documented everything.   Here are a few
tidbits that readers may find entertaining and informative:

The piano was completed by Steinway in New York in December 1911.  At
that time, New York retail for the Model A Drawing -Room Grand was about
$900.   In perspective, average non-farm income was about $500, and the
average home cost about $2500.  The name of the first purchaser is lost
to everyone but Steinway  (I’m working on them).  The piano came to
Washington D.C., where the first owner played it until selling it to a
prominent psychiatrist in the late 1920’s.  The selling price is not
recorded, but the buyer  was an accomplished pianist and poet (this
information from her obituary, August 29, 1949).

In 1949, this owner  sold the piano to the above noted IRS man.  He also
was a pianist of some ability, capable of performing a classical
repertoire semi-professionally.  The programs from his performances are
included in the piano’s records.  I quote from his notes: "On May 5
(1949), I gave a check for $500 in full payment for the piano.  I paid
(a tuner/technician) $5 cash for the examination."  The bill for moving
the piano was $25.75.  Records show that six men were required for the
moving job!

Shortly after purchasing the piano, the new owner had some questions
about the piano’s age.  Apparently then the Pierce Piano Atlas was not
available.  Four technicians guessed at the piano’s age one guessed
1912, one guessed "much older than that", one guessed 1924, and one
guessed 1901.  A letter to Steinway settled the issue.  Postage at that
time was 3 cents.  The return letter from Steinway is included in the
papers.  The envelope is embossed, and the postmark itself is a little
work of art.

A complete record of all piano related expenses was kept.  The first
tuning, cleaning and regulation cost $10 in May 1949.  The piano was
tuned and maintained regularly.  A tuning in 1950 cost $7.  In 1951 the
price dropped to $6, and in 1952, back to $7, then  in 1954 back down to
$6.

In 1955 the owner decided to have a new soundboard, pinblock,
pins/strings, all new felts and leathers, new hammers, and tuning and
voicing, all to be done by Steinway in New York.  The price was an
astounding $1277, which included transportation to and from.  The job
took six months to complete.  Steinway quotes about $11000 plus
transportation for the same job today.

The price of tuning jumped to $8 in 1955, and rose  to $11 in 1960, $15
in 1965.

In 1965, there was trouble.  Apparently the pins Steinway had used for
the 1955 repair were faulty.  The piano was restrung and repinned for a
charge of $250.  Steinway was invited to share in the cost of the
restringing, but declined.  Restringing today would cost about $900.
The $250 charge seems a little high.

Tuning was  $20 in 1970, $25 in 1975, $40 in 1980, $60 in 1985, $75 in
1990, and $95 in 1995.

Some interesting points:

The original purchase price of the piano was  about  1.8 times the
average wage, and about 1/3 the cost of the average home.  An equivalent
new Steinway today would go for about the same fractions of wage and
home cost.

If we consider the $6 charge for tuning in 1949, and the $95 charge
today, we see that in 1997 dollars, our IRS man paid about  $16,000 for
the piano.  $16,000 would be a fair asking price for a used A in good
condition today.

Do good pianos appreciate?   Probably not.  From what I can piece
together, each time the piano was sold, it went for less than half what
was paid for it by the seller (in constant year dollars).

One final observation:  the two previous owners of this piano were
single and left no close family.  Both kept the piano until they were
too old  and/or sick to play it.  A good piano is an artifact that
accompanies the typical owner for a lifetime.

On a technical note.  The piano finish is original, a black stained
shellac.  Does anyone know if a stain was used under the shellac,
directly on the wood?  If so, what kind?  BTW, the soundboard is
perfect.

Frank Weston