James, I realize your post was for a referral and no more. However, as I think Les implied, there's another significant topic in your post. Without taking anything away from Les' reply, I submit the following as reference for you, the client, the moving folks, or the ANTIQUE dealer. The walls of the rest rooms... at least the men's rooms, at one of my colleges has wallpaper featuring black and white ad slicks of a bygone era. They all appear to be from an early Sears catalog. Before turning this into bathroom humor, let's just say my attention was 'drawn' to a particular ad: a new Beckwith upright for $195. Beside it is an ad for a whale-boned corset. I don't remember the cost on that. The point here is one of datestamping versus value. In my last experience with a Beckwith, the owner wanted new key covers. I resisted, he insisted, I lost. (Don't know whether it's relative, but client was an attorney). I did keycovers and bushings. He was happy. I suggested no additional work be done. This time I won, but only after providing a ballpark estimate. Based on the original price and my last real-time experience, then factoring in time, use, original quality, and "appreciation", the Beckwith just doesn't make the trip to current dollars. The most realistic price bracket for it would be in the 'free for hauling off' category. The most optimistic value would be around fifty dollars at a yard sale, even with a piece of veneer missing. I'm not up to speed on values, but for antique value, it's quite possible the old corset is worth more than the piano! [partial quote] >Just got a call from a moving company from Kansas City, MO. They need a >piano tech to look at a piano in Sikeston, MO to estimate worth of a >Beckweth piano. I told her I would post it on the list and give her a call >back Fri afternoon. Any one close or know of someone who is. Jim Harvey, RPT harvey@greenwood.net ________________________ Greenwood (n): the largest city in South Carolina WITHOUT an Interstate
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