<HTML>In a message dated 6/16/0= 3 12:25:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time, pcpoulso@pacbell.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Hello all, and particularly= to those in the SF-Bay area: A client of mine has been talking to a piano broker over there who has a1915 Steinway O i= n original condition for sale, at $18,500. The dealer is a woman by the na= me of Susan Gilmer. She claims it is in excellent condition, but will need hammers soon. (At least!) Anyone familiar with this person and her reputation? My customer would have a three hour drive to inspect the pia= no, so we are trying to arm ourselves with any available information. Thanks= , Patrick C. Poulson Registered Piano Technician Piano Technicians Guild </BLOCKQUOTE> Patrick, I have heard of her.  She is a tech/broker in this area.  As f= ar as reputation, I haven't heard anything bad(or great, for that matter...)= .  You might have somebody \on this list who lives in this area check t= he piano out for your friend/client.   David Andersen said this is too much to pay for an O in the stated condi= tion.  I won't disagree, but the reality is that in this area, EVERYTHI= NG is expensive.  Pianos are no different.  I have seen many piano= s that need extensive work sell for what many people would consider way too = much money. On the other hand, if the piano has been around here for a long period o= f time, it is likely in good shape, because the climate seems accomodate gra= ceful ageing in pianos.   Dave Stahl</HTML>