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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>----- Original Message ----- </EM></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>From: "Will Wickham" <</EM></FONT><A
href="mailto:wwickham@stny.rr.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><EM>wwickham@stny.rr.com</EM></FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2><EM>></EM></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>> Larry's book (second edition is what I
have) has some pretty good <BR>> general info on pages 141-143. I go
through a few steps to appraise a <BR>> piano: First, I use the
depreciation schedule on page 143 to <BR>> determine the current value
of older pianos. I find (or estimate) <BR>> the age of the
piano then multiply the suggested retail price of the <BR>> closest
available model that is currently available by the indicated <BR>>
percentage. That gives me a starting point. Second is to survey the
<BR>> web for asking prices (and actual sale prices when I can find
them) <BR>> for pianos of similar model and age. The third step is to
call around <BR>> to "local" dealers to see what they might ask or
expect to get for <BR>> the particular piano. The final step is to
consider all of this along <BR>> with Larry's advice as well as the
condition of the piano and come up <BR>> with a high figure (what the
piano should be insured for or <BR>> replacement cost)</EM>
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Be aware that many (or at least State Farm) insurance
companies selling "replacement cost" policies will replace a claimed item
with new - your 20 year old TV will be replaced with a similar new one - your 50
year old couch will be replaced with a similar new one - your 15 year old
refrigerator will be replaced with a new one - AND your 100 year old piano will
be replaced with a new one. So in that case, the figure the insurance company
needs is the current retail cost of a new similar piano!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>> and a "likely sale price" figure (what
I'd <BR>> recommend the customer ask for or expect to get in a sale)
for the <BR>> market conditions in the region where the piano is
located.<BR>> <BR>> While the first step doesn't apply in all cases (since
you just can't <BR>> buy a Wing and Sons grand or any of the tall old
upright style pianos <BR>> new these days) the others all have some
bearing on all pianos.<BR></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Most all major piano manufacturers offer a 52-inch-tall
upright model. Yeah, they are a bit shorter than some of the taller old uprights
of old, but pretty close.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>> Having said all of this, appraising is
not an exact science, which I <BR>> think is why we don't have a
comprehensive guide of used piano prices.<BR>> <BR>> Good luck!<BR>>
<BR>> will wickham<BR>> <BR>> On Apr 5, 2006, at 8:46 PM, ed miller
wrote:<BR>> <BR>>> I understand that there is much more to appraising
pianos than just <BR>>> knowing a single listed value, but I can't
find a comprehensive <BR>>> guide to "list
prices".<BR>>><BR>>> The only book I know of is the The Piano Book
by Larry Fine. I have <BR>>> not found it too useful because so
often a particular piano or <BR>>> model piano I am looking for is
not listed.<BR>>><BR>>> Also the Piano Book doesn't factor date of
manufacture into the <BR>>> listed value, all the pianos are listed
according to model. I don't <BR>>> understand this.....Wouldn't a
piano of the same model, but <BR>>> manufactured 30 years earlier be
worth a different amount (whether <BR>>> it be more or
less)?<BR>>><BR>>> Can anyone help me understand this, and suggest
some other <BR>>> resources to help me appraise
pianos?<BR>>><BR>>> Thanks,
Ed<BR>>><BR>></EM></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>