appraise antiques

[Richard Moody]

Urban Antiques on Union St in San Francisco,  if they are still going used
to have occasional pianos.  Pianos don't have so much of an antique value as
a collector's value. Thus the player pianos or barrel pianos have value. If
there are collectors for square grands then there will be a value for square
grands.  There is a museum interest in square pianos but these would be
before 1800, most of the ones after  were probably donated.  Or rarely is a
fine old victorian square in "beautiful" condition that its conditon alone
might make it worth more than the cost of disposal, or moving.   If it is
over 200 years old, check with museums. ---ric

----- Original Message -----
From: Carman Gentile <cgpiano@webtv.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 12:39 AM
Subject: appraise antiques


>   Is there anyone in California who can appraise the -antique- value of
> old pianos?
>
>   My customers with square grands often ask me to estimate the value of
> their antique instruments.  I tell them I can estimate the piano's value
> as a musical instrument but not its value as an antique.
>
>   The local antique store owners have no particular expertise in
> appraising pianos as apart from antique furniture.
>
>   Anyone with any ideas?
>
> Carman Gentile RPT
> Eureka,
> Humboldt County, CA
>
>
>
>