Erard #3870

[stevewotherspoon]

Hello, Whilst holidaying in Scotland I have run across a lovely Upright ERARD from 1810 to 1815.

Is 2000 euro a good price, in excellant condition.

Thanks
Steve

[Bill Kibby]

You started off by making an assumption about the date, can you tell me how you arrived that? I don't ever recall seeing an Erard upright that early, and the published information is unreliable, #3870 may be 1850s.

Some information about Erard maybe found at...
http://www.pianogen.org/numbers.html
http://www.pianogen.org/archives.html

It is not likely to be Erard Paris, is it London? Can you tell me the complete, exact wording of the name?

If you could upload some images here, or email them to me, we may be able to tell you more, but nobody can guess the value without tuning it and examining it on the spot.

Unrestored, it might struggle to reach fifty pounds, depending on type, condition, and tuneability. On the other hand, if it has had major restoration, the work alone may have cost thousands.

[stevewotherspoon]

Thanks for your reply and sorry for the twin post.

Built in London.

The build date came from a piano tuner who consulted Taylor's Piano Atlas.

[stevewotherspoon]

Hello, Sorry but I can't seem to send attachments. Think I managed to send you one through twitter. Thanks Steve

[Bill Kibby]

Is that twitter to me @pianohistory ? I haven't a clue how to receive attachments on twitter, but I can't see it.

That number as a London piano will be around 1856.

I was in the middle of editing my previous posting when you posted, so do read it again.

By Taylor's, do you mean Musicians Piano Atlas that I put the Erard numbers into about 30 years ago? The list has been updated since.

[NewAge]

Hello, Whilst holidaying in Scotland I have run across a lovely Upright ERARD from 1810 to 1815.

Is 2000 euro a good price, in excellant condition. Thanks Steve

I've seen so many 'nice' upright Erard's over the last 2 years in France, most of which really struggle to make 500€. If for sale by a dealer I'd expect a fair amount to have been done to it for 2k. If you are particularly after an Erard, 2000€ should get you a 'playable' grand if you take your time and look around.

[Bill Kibby]

I want to emphasise once again that we don't know anything at all about the condition of this piano, and it would be unfair to make any assumptions either way about value, bearing in mind that Steve is not the owner.

In style, it appears identical to a number of Erard London pianos of the 1860s we have on file, but the number suggests that it was made in 1856. The reference to the Great Exhibition shows that it was made after that event, and not 1810-1815.