Am I a fool to give away this piano?

[50]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of Erhard pianos. I put this on craigslist and have gotten a huge response. Are these worth anything? What about the player music? I'd hate to give up something valuable. This piano came with the house and has to be at least 100 years old.

 

[Mo0o]

anything over 100 years old is usually worht something

 

[FreshFish]

I am no piano expert, but that *looks* like an antique. You should try to get some moeny for it!

 

[Atheus]

Dude, it's a working piano, of course it's worth something.

 

[BRObedoza]

You should have slapped a price on it to test the waters before you offered it for free.

 

[sniperruff]

antique roadshow ftw

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
anything over 100 years old is usually worht something

Especially an old player piano

 

[Pepsi90919]

that ad FTL

 

[deftron]

Ebay with a local pickup only

or piano movers option

 

[yobarman]

watch it be worth like 10 grand haha

 

[sniperruff]

you know what you can do though, put it on CL next week, with the description that goes something like "antique piano. obtained from local sucker for a really low price, and now it's yours for only $25k"

 

[Pepsi90919]

are you sure it's not "Erard"?

 

[myusername]

Yes, yes you are.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

It's a working, old, PLAYER piano. Those are worth a fortune! Of course, I don't know anything....

 

[Wahsapa]

that thing definately looks like its worth some money.

from the fact that its so old and still plays means its got to be quality. they dont make stuff like they used to.

 

[ni4ni]

Ten grand is an understatement...

 

[mattocs]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
anything over 100 years old is usually worht something

I will sell you my grandmother, if you're interested

 

[50]

hmmm...maybe I was wrong about this thing. I was looking on ebay and found another erhard baby grand piano (i know they are very different) but the seller wanted 1000 for it. BTW does anyone know how to tell if your keys are ivory or not?

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Originally posted by: 50
hmmm...maybe I was wrong about this thing. I was looking on ebay and found another erhard baby grand piano (i know they are very different) but the seller wanted 1000 for it. BTW does anyone know how to tell if your keys are ivory or not?

Push down a key and look at the sides of the keys next to it. I think you can see if it's just wood or if it's really ivory. Of course, I'm probably wrong.

 

[OhioState]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Dude, it's a working piano, of course it's worth something.

:thumbsup:

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: 50
hmmm...maybe I was wrong about this thing. I was looking on ebay and found another erhard baby grand piano (i know they are very different) but the seller wanted 1000 for it. BTW does anyone know how to tell if your keys are ivory or not?

reply to my post?

 

[50]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: 50
hmmm...maybe I was wrong about this thing. I was looking on ebay and found another erhard baby grand piano (i know they are very different) but the seller wanted 1000 for it. BTW does anyone know how to tell if your keys are ivory or not?

reply to my post?

Yes, I am positive it is not erard. It is clearly erhard. Also thanks XabanakFanatik, the keys are wood.

 

[dugweb]

I've heard piano's that play by themselves (i.e. yours) are very rare to be found in working condition, and can be worth thousands :Q

where do you live and I'll come and take it off your hands

edit: I just checked and you live in Mass, which I am still considering coming and getting this piano from you even though I am in Idaho

 

[50]

I saw this on ebay, I have a feeling my piano is not worth much. Anyways thanks for the tips guys

 

[Frodolives]

I'd check around for references on the particular model before getting too excited over the value. They aren't all valuable just because of age, though condition is a major variable, and our limited glimpse of your piano shows an instrument that may have had pretty acceptable humidity conditions over so many years.

Otherwise the cost of restoration can often be worth more than the value of an old piano. Factors include a complex and aging pneumatics system for the "player" element. The condition and uniformity of the felts on the individual actions for the keys. The condition of the soundboard, and whether the pinblock is still viable (else retrofitting oversized tuning pins or some other immensely costly repair), and so on.

At the very least an old piano usually needs a few tunings to get back to stable condition, providing it's even capable of that.

By the way, I used to sell pianos, but that and 50 cents will get you a cheap cigar

Edit: On the other hand some of the rolls can be worth a fortune, so be sure and search them carefully!