I have a Werner Chicago upright piano. I know the last Werner was built in 1929. The serial number is 191977. It's in good condition, with all hammers and pads. Can you ell me how much it is worth? Thanks.

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On 04/30/2018 03:07 PM, Diane Wood wrote:

I have a Werner Chicago upright piano. I know the last Werner was built in 1929. The serial number is 191977. It's in good condition, with all hammers and pads. Can you ell me how much it is worth? Thanks.

Hello, and probably not much. Pianos, even ones that are attractive as furniture, with few exceptions, traditionally aren't in demand as
collectibles. They are heavy beasts, complex mechanically and "good
condition" doesn't mean that things like cracked soundboards, loose
tuning pins, "sticking" keys, rusty strings, worn out hammer felt, etc
aren't present. There were lots of piano manufacturers in early 20th
cent America turning out products of varying quality. If you play this
piano, like the sound, and you're not calling the piano tuner every
week, then keep it. If you just want it as a room decoration, keep it. Otherwise you'll very likely be paying someone just to dispose of it.
Decades ago churches used to welcome the donation of old pianos for
their fellowship and Sunday school rooms but now we have low-cost and lightweight digital pianos (that never need tuning). Sorry, but that's
just the way it is. Sincerely,

--
J. B. Wood e-mail: arl_123234@hotmail.com

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To J. B. Wood.
Agree with everything you said, but how sad.

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"J.B. Wood" <arl_123234@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:pc9fuo$19ie$1@gioia.aioe.org...

On 04/30/2018 03:07 PM, Diane Wood wrote:

I have a Werner Chicago upright piano. I know the last Werner was built
in 1929. The serial number is 191977. It's in good condition, with all
hammers and pads. Can you ell me how much it is worth? Thanks.

Hello, and probably not much. Pianos, even ones that are attractive as furniture, with few exceptions, traditionally aren't in demand as collectibles. They are heavy beasts, complex mechanically and "good condition" doesn't mean that things like cracked soundboards, loose tuning pins, "sticking" keys, rusty strings, worn out hammer felt, etc aren't present. There were lots of piano manufacturers in early 20th cent
America turning out products of varying quality. If you play this piano, like the sound, and you're not calling the piano tuner every week, then
keep it. If you just want it as a room decoration, keep it. Otherwise
you'll very likely be paying someone just to dispose of it. Decades ago churches used to welcome the donation of old pianos for their fellowship
and Sunday school rooms but now we have low-cost and lightweight digital pianos (that never need tuning). Sorry, but that's just the way it is. Sincerely,

--
J. B. Wood e-mail: arl_123234@hotmail.com

I have a Cable & Nelson Upright Grand, built in Chicago in the 20s, similar, and I paid $500 for it 10 years ago, today, can't tune it --- strings might break, and it's getting to where I need a new piano, like yesterday.

I don't like digital pianos, no sympathetic vibes, it's just not the same.

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