F.Rubenstein & Co.

[silent_empathy]

Hey guys
Just a little one on this, Ive got an F. Rubenstein & Co. stand-up Piano. It looks very original complete with medals candle holders etc (as in the pic). My question is does anybody know anything about this piano and would it be worth restoring it?

[Bill Kibby]

Nobody can answer that without tuning it, because if the tuning pins do not hold, the cost of repairs would be more than an old piano like this would be worth. To torque-test the pins, the tuner has to turn them, and that means it will have to be tuned after testing.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

It is very easy to answer this question but Please first take some more photos showing us very clearly what the internal action is like. You'll have to point the camera down inside the top lid or even better remove the top panel for a full view of the action. Close ups with flash on please.

The answer is very very likely to even consider spending any money on it but please send photos and we will be able to a general guide to the likely value.

Thanks
Mark

[Bill Kibby]

"We" implies that Mark is representing this forum. If Mark wants to do a valuation privately, this forum cannot accept the legal implications. Photos will not tell anyone how loose or tight the tuning pings are, or how the action and keys perform, etc.. Only a tuner there on the spot can judge these things.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Thanks Bill, I will be careful to say "I" not "we" from now on

The issue of loose pins becomes irrelevant if someone is asking whether it is economically viable to restore a straight-strung overdamped piano with 85 notes. In such cases the answer is very easy. The answer is "put your wallet away" and it doesn't matter if it has the best pinblock and tightest pins in the world. It's still an old banger that will always be worth less than the investment if you were to restore it. You'd spend £1500 and the piano would then be worth about £600.

We have enough knowledgeable people here who are more than capable of valuing a straight-strung overdamped banger from photos alone. The answer is often something like this...

For your average straight-strung, overdamped piano...
1. A shop would charge you to remove it
2. A friend may give you £100
3. It may fetch 59p on eBay
4. You may get rid of it free on freecycle

If it was used to record "let it by" by the Beatles then the value will be increased significantly but otherwise, the above valuations are accurate.

I maintain that the standard response of "nobody can value it without tuning it" is neither accurate nor helpful to the person who has come in search of assistance. We CAN give them helpful and accurate advice very quickly about these old bangers.

[vernon]

I certainly can't!

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Vernon, course you can.
Let's assume that the piano shown in this topic turns out to be a straight-strung overdamper. Would you make an offer to buy it? I'd say not. Therefore it has £0 value to the trade. What do you think it would sell for on ebay? £50 Therefore it has a very approximate value of £50 to ebay. Is this the sort of piano that people sometimes sell privately for up to about £200? Therefore, we can put a private sale value on it of approximately £200.

You'd have to give the disclaimer that the above valuations are based on the piano being in general working order and the questioner should seek professional advice for a water-tight, accurate valuation and assessment.

Simples

[vernon]

Mark

Don't be daft.
The piano, if offered to you, proved US then it's" value "is zilch.
If some loony on E Bay pays £200,it's still being US,then it is still worth £0 to anyone except the loony. It cost £200 but for all practical purposes it is still "worth" the aforementioned zero. Metaphysics mon brave.
It's called common sense in the trade.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Hey don't be rude, we're just chatting here. Relax max

Sadly I don't know what "proved US" and "it's still being US" means. Can you clarify? Thanks.

An item's value is determined by what someone will pay for it.

If traders will offer £0 then it's worth £0
If a friend will pay £200 then it's worth £200
If an ebuyer will pay £50 then it's worth £50

But I'm glad you agreed with me in the end that we ARE in fact very capable of valuing these pianos and I'm glad we both agree that this one is probably worth £0. This is likely to be very helpful to the OP and may save him many hundreds of pounds.

[Johnkie]

"US" - had me fooled too for a couple of seconds Mark ! UselesS or UnServiceable

Anyone know what's happened to Pianolove ? Keri seems to have disappeared .... I'm sure she could add to this thread by telling you off

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Yep, Kerri would snap this one up and give a stern telling off

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

The OP not have asked for the selling on price but they did ask if it was "worth" restoring. That's where the question of resale value becomes relevant. But it's nice to see you on this topic where you belong

[bee1010]

i just got the same exact piano from a neighbour who is moving to Costa Rica, is this piano repairable? Two keys are not working properly (have to push down hard). Also, the piano no longer has the candle stick holders. I was wondering about the cost to tune and repair since I always wanted a piano for the family without paying thousands of dollars, this one just cost me $500 and i am still okay as long as I can have it tuned without paying too much.

Bee

[bee1010]

i just got a piano from my neighbour that is exactly like the pictures posted at the top, is the piano repairable? I have two keys that don't work well (have to push hard on them) and the whole thing needs to be tuned. Always wanted a piano in the house but not willing to pay thousands for one, just paying him$500 for it (what he asked for) but am now woried about he comments on top.

bee

[Bill Kibby]

Nobody can answer without inspecting the piano.

[Colin Nicholson]

i just got a piano from my neighbour that is exactly like the pictures posted at the top, is the piano repairable? I have two keys that don't work well (have to push hard on them) and the whole thing needs to be tuned. Always wanted a piano in the house but not willing to pay thousands for one, just paying him$500 for it (what he asked for) but am now woried about he comments on top.

bee

Bill, if you had a pound for every time you said it needs to be inspected first, you would be very rich!
I think there should be some kind of "after - councelling" for people who buy an old 100 year old piano, and expect it to be tuned & repaired without paying much!
Bee1010 ...... yes, I would be concerned also that you might have bought a SHED! - no 2 pianos are alike, even when new. Some people buy a piano because they are lured into its looks, and they often think.... "pianos are normally quite expensive to buy.... wow.... I'll grab this piano as its at a give away price" ! .... its probably been sold under false pretences, and may not be tuneable.

Bill's "one liner" is the only answer!

If you buy a 100 year old barn or car.... well, you would normally expect to pay thousands to have it restored - if you are in the trade, or know local tradesmen - then it may be cheaper.... but when you buy the equivalent 'barn' in the shape of a piano - only your local restorer (yes, just one guy) [no tradesmen queuing up] will quote you quite a bit to get it sounding reasonable.

Best to get any piano checked over first, even if its virtually FREE!
There is no such thing as a free piano.