F. Doerner & Sohn, Stuttgart #6328

[Nico]

I've got a F. Doerner & Sohn, Stuttgart upright piano (Goldene Medaille). Serial Number 6328. I cannot find any information on this module. Can someone please supply me with information on this model and brand??

I know that the factory was closed in the early 1900's, or so i was told! And how much would it be worth today as it was manufactured between 1850 to 1880!!

Nico

visser.nico@ymail.com

[Colin Nicholson]

I believe that Doerner used another similar name "Frederick Dorner & Sons" between 1850 - 1947, then changed its name to Dorner & Mathaes around 1948.

The serial number #6328 suggests 1890.Records are not kept for piano information, and your piano will probably join the ever-winding long queue of being unknown. Many piano companies seldom survived the Wars.

Dorner Established in 1830 (Wilhelmplatz, Stuttgart) and ceased production around 1949.

Cannot give valuations of pianos, you need to make an appointment with a piano tuner who will need to tune it, as part of the assessment.

Bill may be able to assist further with the history.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Please upload some photos showing the inside and outside of the piano from various angles. It may be possible to give a very rough valuation this way. Off hand I'd say it's probably worth nothing. That's usually the case with non-famous pianos from that kind of period. I may be wrong so please upload photos AND hire a tuner to inspect your piano.

[lucasbun]

Hi markgoodwin,

I don't know why you say its probably worth nothing..actually old restored pianos are worth A LOT of money.
Actually check out this one for example:

http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA ... -pinto-_JM

Without being restored would cost way less obviously...

[Colin Nicholson]

lucasbun....

This post is nearly five years old, and I believe Mark no longer engages in discussions on this forum..... so your reply seems out of context and nonsense.
Obviously a lot of pianos BEFORE restoration ARE worth very little, if nothing - less than £10 in fact, Mark was correct in saying this about the average unrestored piano with this name. Depending on the level of restoration, pianos are sometimes worth more after a restoration, and if someone wants to put a $40K tag on a piano - from a piano shop, it may still not be worth that - anyone in the world can do this.

I don't think the link is a suitable example - firstly - it's in a foreign language, no information about the piano or restoration details - and after looking closer at the mechanism and wrest plank, not all the parts have been restored - but refurbished. I doubt if the original piano talked about in January 2011 is this piano on your link?

If you can successfully prove the original value and history of this piano, giving all the restoration details in full, then prove that this piano actually sold for this amount - then you may stand half a chance of striking a chord with other forum members to support you.

[Bill Kibby]

It is against the law here in Britain, as in the States, to give written valuations unless one is licensed to do so. In half a century, I have never found anyone anywhere who would give a valuation without inspecting the piano on the spot, and tuning it.

I could buy a piano for £10, do thousands of pounds-worth of work on it, and then slap a big price on it, but would that mean it was WORTH thousands? I think the money would be better spent on a newer, better piano.

There are some technicians who can't stand to do less than a full job of restoring a piano, and then complain because they have trouble selling them.

Here in Britain, unrestored antique pianos fetch very little at auction, and I am offered several each year for nothing, just to save them from being scrapped. Even some Bechsteins do not fetch £20, so what chance does a little-known maker have?