>List, > >Does anyone know of someone who might be an "expert" on old Chickering grands? > >I was called to go look at one the other day because of an insurance >claim for a little flood damage. The water only got up high enough >to damage the legs and pedal lyre a little. The water was only there >app 4-6 hrs. and the power was back on the next morning. It seems >like everything else is OK, at least for the time being. However, I >did caution her that there is no guarantee that no more problems >would develop over the next several years. > >Anyway, what I need is an approximate pre-flood value for the insurance. > >Serial number is 17232 (1855 - 1860, according to Pierce). > >It's app. 6-1/2' long (maybe a little longer) with a fairly ornate >case, legs and pedal lyre. > >It's straight strung in the bass (5 singles & 13 doubles), with only >2 string unisons all the way through #88 and agraffes all the way to >the top. > >The dampers are very small (short). > >The soundboard seems to be in good shape and it actually has a >fairly decent sound for an instrument that old. > >One possible problem with the value of it might be previous >rebuilding work that's been done. Did Chickerings that old have the >leather covered hammers? This one doesn't but they were probably >replace when the instrument was refinished, restrung, etc. > >The keytops have also been replaced with one-piece plastic which >hangs over the edge too far. > >Another local tech has looked at it and done some book research on >it and gave her an app. value of $55,000 to $125,000 (a pretty wide >range) :-) with it probably in the $90,000 range. I know very little >about instruments of this age, but that seems like a pretty high >value to me. Especially if any historical significance has been >affected by the previous work done on it. > >The same tech gave an estimate of about $22,000 to rebuild and >refinish. Probably purposely on the high side to protect her in case >other problems were found. It's in fairly nice shape except for the >cracks in the legs and needing to refurbish the pedals because of >the flood. It plays decently for an instrument that old. > >Any comments or referrals to someone who might know? > >Thanks. > >Avery >Houston (Flood city, USA) :-) Dear Avery, Chickering grand pianos from 1855-1860 were being produced at an average rate of 1320 per year, placing this instrument at about 1857. My guess is that it has a Brown Action and not a modern action. Anyway, being a manufactured object with no special ornamentation (not an art case), my guess is that the instrument is worth quite a bit less than $55,000. They certainly are not rare. The basic question for an appraisal is this, "How much would I have to pay to buy another instrument like this on today's market." In Boston, these instruments are not hard to find, and my guess is that a similar instrument that has been rebuilt, could be obtained for $15,000 - $20,000. The expert you are looking for will be in the Boston area. I suggest you contact David Betts at the North Bennett St. School in Boston. Phone number is in any PTG Journal. Sincerely, Ken Eschete Northwestern University -- Kenneth Eschete Supervisor of Keyboard Maintenance Phone: 847/467-6970 Northwestern University School of Music FAX: 847/491-5260 711 Elgin Rd.; Evanston, Il 60208 EMAIL: k-eschete@northwestern.edu
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