Hi there, In my experience there are two kinds of squares; one plays and sounds better than the average console, and they're in reverse proportion to size than usual. I don't believe anyone is collecting big squares, but there is interest in the small ones, both musically and as antiques. The double actions in older square perform very well, though they are seasonally unstable. Later, single actions 'perform' as well as their hammer pinning permits. Edwin Brown's patent illustrates a square action which, if Chickering ever used it, would perform better than the average well-regulated grand action. An 1889 S&S square in my area sold for $10,000 - urethane finish, plastic keys, structural problems and all, but I'd blame this one on ebay. Cheers, Clark
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC