Bluebook: was "need help on an appraisal"

[Don]

Hi Clyde,

Ah yes, the old archieves...but have you tried the new ones yet?

At 07:51 AM 10/17/02 -0400, you wrote:
>Friends,
>
>I bought the "'Original' Bluebook of Pianos" maybe two years ago.  I
reviewed it
>on this list at that time, but since trying to use the archives frustrated me
>once, I will not encourage you to go there.  You may, of course.
>
>On the positive side I'm glad I bought it.  It has information on old
pianos and
>some less common brands that may not be available anywhere else.  About
half of
>the book has such information on pianos from 1889 to 2000.
>
>On the negative side, in reading the descriptions it would be easy to believe
>that at least some of them are based on advertising literature put out by the
>manufacturing companies.  The approximately 1" thick book is in 8.5" X 11"
>format inside a heavier softbound cover, one of those where you punch
holes in
>the pages and hold everything together with a metal contraption.  Since a
few of
>my pages seem to be out of order or even missing, it appears the books may be
>put together by hand, and not very carefully.
>
>There are several other sections.  One is titled "Price schedule for used
pianos
>based on condition."  There follow five columns of dollar figures -- R&R,
Refur,
>excel, good, fair.  My biggest hangup with this section is that there is no
>differentiation by age.  For instance, can we really believe that a Becker
Bros.
>5'2" piano in fair condition is worth $3,500?  Maybe, if it's a grand, but it
>might be an upright.  The book does not make that distinction.  I don't even
>know if Becker Bros. made grands.  I've never seen one, although I do service
>some uprights.
>
>Is it a reputable publication?  Doubtful.  It certainly does not look
>professional.  As I said above, I'm glad I bought one, but I wouldn't put
much
>faith in it.
>
>Regards,
>Clyde
>
>
>
>Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> John, I also was unaware of this book.  Do you recommend it as a reputable
>> publication?  Does anyone else have this book and an opinion?
>>
>> Just want to know as I am considering purchasing the book.  Reply
private if
>> you wish.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Dave Smith
>> Pine Island FL
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "John Musselwhite" <john@musselwhite.com>
>> To: "Alan R. Barnard" <mathstar@salemnet.com>; "Pianotech"
>> <pianotech@ptg.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 2:47 PM
>> Subject: Re: need help on an appraisal
>>
>> > At 11:06 AM 09/10/02 -0500, Alan wrote:
>> >
>> > >Of course, there is no blue book for pianos--more's the pity--but the
>> > >principle is the same.
>> >
>> > Obviously you aren't aware of http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/
>> >
>> > John Musselwhite, RPT    -     Calgary, Alberta Canada
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>
>

Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. Tuner for the Center of
the Arts

mailto:pianotuna@accesscomm.ca

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