Broadwood Value

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Dear List,

The piano is a Broadwood 4'- 5" (no that's not a misprint) grand built during the 1930's as near as we can tell from the
serial number. The action and hammers are original -- and odd. The action does not have wippens as such, but has the jacks
pinned to a rocker screwed to the keys. A spring and thread arrangement provide for jack return and for what repetition help
there is. The action will be "regulated" before the instrument is returned to its owner.

I'm putting in dampers this afternoon using the original damper felts if possible.

The soundboard and ribs have been replaced and two of the three bridges have been capped. (The piano had sustained shipping
damage.) The strings are installed in three levels with the two bridges terminating the wound strings on two different
levels. Both of these bridges have only one row of pins. The strings angle from there back to offset hitchpins.

The piano now has a new pinblock and strings. Originally there were no rim or bellyrail braces. There was also no inner rim
ledge for the pinblock to fasten to. The only mechanism by which the plate was located side-to-side were three #14 screws
(two at the treble and one at the bass) going through the plate into the sides of the outer rim. Needless to say, they had
long since stripped out. Since one of the problems with this piano was that the plate had shifted approximately 5 mm toward
the bass side we have fabricated dummy inner rim blocks for the pinblock to rest on which are now screwed and glued to the
rim. The pinblock is now glued and doweled to these blocks. The rim and belly rail assembly has now been fitted with
reinforcing corner blocks at each end of the belly rail and two belly braces have been fitted.

The casework is finished in a rather pretty mahogany and, although it is not being refinished, it is in very good condition.

Now for my question:
The owner wants an appraisal of value for insurance purposes. And I don't have a clue about what one of these things might be
worth in this condition. Any serious suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Del