Help an old piano

General discussion about piano makes, problems with pianos, or just seeking advice.

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rvalacas
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Help an old piano

Post by rvalacas »

Dear Piano Forum people

I am a new subscriber to your interesting forum and I am hopping to find help to restore an old piano inherited by my sister. This piano belonged to our mother and she used to play classical music with exceptional talent and grace and now, after many years of service, this piano is having a big problem. The piano is a ZEITTER & WINKELMANN Kitzingen, Main, Germany vertical, about 1920

In the neighbourhood where my sister lives they had a big flood recently and the piano was affected by the muddy water.

My sister was able to clean up the piano, but it can’t play any more, if we can’t restore it she will have to dispose of it along with many valuable items that were damaged on the flood.

We hope that you can offer us some help to find where or who can repair it and also help to collect some funds to do so, my sister and I are retired people with small pension, we can not afford to repair it in other way.

Thank you very much. This is my very first time in this forum. I just registered minutes ago


rvalacas
Last edited by markymark on 15 Sep 2009, 17:27, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Moved from DIGITAL PIANOS forum
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chrisvenables
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by chrisvenables »

Sorry to hear the bad news. A close friend of mine specialises in flood damaged pianos, I'm sure he will be able to help you.

You can contact him through his web site:

www.gordonbellpianos.com
Yamaha Piano Main Dealer since 1981. www.chrisvenables.co.uk
Kemble King
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Kemble King »

yes, sorry to hear about the damage that has happened to your piano.

We had 22 pianos written off last week due to flood damage in the basement of our shop. If there is anything that you would like to know regarding having it accessed for insurance purpose or repair, please feel free to contact me.

Regards

Gordon Bell
The most AMAZING piano dealer in the UK

Kemble Centre of Excellence also dealer for Kawai, Wendl and Lung and Brodmann pianos
Peter Smith Pianos
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Peter Smith Pianos »

rvalacas wrote:Dear Piano Forum people

I am a new subscriber to your interesting forum and I am hopping to find help to restore an old piano inherited by my sister. This piano belonged to our mother and she used to play classical music with exceptional talent and grace and now, after many years of service, this piano is having a big problem. The piano is a ZEITTER & WINKELMANN Kitzingen, Main, Germany vertical, about 1920

In the neighbourhood where my sister lives they had a big flood recently and the piano was affected by the muddy water.

My sister was able to clean up the piano, but it can’t play any more, if we can’t restore it she will have to dispose of it along with many valuable items that were damaged on the flood.

We hope that you can offer us some help to find where or who can repair it and also help to collect some funds to do so, my sister and I are retired people with small pension, we can not afford to repair it in other way.

Thank you very much. This is my very first time in this forum. I just registered minutes ago Would not reccomend any sort of repair if piano and action parts have been affected by water,check house insurance to see if piano is covered on policy and find out if insurance is "new for old" or "like for like".


rvalacas
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Peter Smith Pianos »

Piano would be better not to be repaired as in most cases water/flood damage is irrepairable,check house insurance to see if covered most policies are "new for old" or "like for like"the cost outweighs any point,better using insurance money to buy another instrument.
Yamaha and Kawai Main Dealers.Nationwide delivery.Contact 0141 887 6160 www.petersmithpianos.co.uk
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Barrie Heaton »

If she is insured and you have new for old get a tuner to write a report the cost of repair will exceed the replacement value on most pianos if they have stood in water.

The get out clause for most insurance is the limit you have on a single item if the replacement or repair exceeds that amount which it will that is all you will get or nothing as you have not named the piano on the insurance

Barrie,
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Pianomate »

Make sure your tuner is aware he is giving a valuation for insurance / repair / replacement purposes and not for selling it.

Check your policy and if in doubt obtain expert advice before filing your claims (for ALL your flood damaged items, not just the piano). Bear in mind the insurance company will probably send a loss adjuster round to survey the damage.

Don't dispose of any flood damaged items you are planning on claiming for until the insurance company has stated that you may do so, or they may not pay out. It is normal for a loss adjuster to have to inspect a damaged item before a claim is approved.

If you're wanting rid of the stuff quickly, ask you insurance company what arrangements for storage they can approve pending viewing by the loss adjuster - that usually gets them round quickly.
Model V
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Model V »

chrisvenables wrote:Sorry to hear the bad news. A close friend of mine specialises in flood damaged pianos, I'm sure he will be able to help you.

You can contact him through his web site:

http://www.gordonbellpianos.com
Kemble King wrote:We had 22 pianos written off last week due to flood damage.
He does now :cry:
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chrisvenables
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by chrisvenables »

Model V - that was quick!...
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Model V
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by Model V »

Eh?
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chrisvenables
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by chrisvenables »

He did then!
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wilhorwood
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Re: Help an old piano

Post by wilhorwood »

Was the piano salvageable or did you need to dispose of it. I am doing some research on Z&W pianos and was wondering if you have any photos of the piano and any serial number. The reference to Kizingen means it was made after 1963 because Z&W licensed manufacturing to a firm in Kiztingen then. Beforehand, all pianos had been made in Braunschweig. It is a period of manufacture I know less about, so if you have anything I would be very grateful.
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