How much this piano can value?

[steindd]

Guys, there's an old piano that just sticks around my grandma's house but it's not being used anymore. Some other day, a fellow that works with antiquities offered $6,000 for the piano.

I never thought it could cost something like this. So, for this, I decided to search and know really what value this piano really have.

The name on it is: Gors & Kallmann - Kaiserl. u. Konigl Hiflieferanten, Berlin. It has been bought around 1914.

Here goes some pictures of it:

http://imageshack.com/a/img802/7170/5zip.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img607/8205/uu4s.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img811/7899/gubs.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img855/936/alnn.jpg

What do you guys think?

[Colin Nicholson]

Welcome to the forum

I am often called out to give a valuation for pianos like this, or to see if it is tuneable, and in some cases, the cost of my call-out fee exceeds the value of the piano!... and in some cases, the piano cannot be tuned.

Gors & Kallmann are (and were) a reasonably good makers name, but only if the piano is kept in good condition & tuned/ serviced regularly. Ebonised casework is not very popular now, and very out-dated.

We cannot give valuations here on the forum (as quoted in the blue header above), and you may need to make an appointment with a piano tuner (who gives valuations/ wholesaler/ trade/ piano restorer) .... if you think the piano is worth something, to attempt to tune it & test the pin torque etc (and see the general condition of the mechanism) - but a quick look at this piano of your grand mothers looks to have quite alot of damage done to it, (been through the mill?) and in need of a major restoration. If you take all the noughts off the offered price (whenever that was) .... it might just sell for that amount on auction - but many old pianos like this are sometimes changed into a drinks cabinet or scrapped.

Unless an old piano like this is fully restored - in the UK - they are just worth a few pounds or pence.... and often don't sell.
Try it on Ebay .... start at 99p no reserve - and see what happens.

Hope that helps

Colin

[NewAge]

Go back IMMEDIATELY to see the fellow that offered $6,000 for the piano - don't walk, RUN, and grab the money.
If he says he's changed his mind (he will) ask him to take off a zero. If he accepts (very unlikely) take the money, it's your lucky day. If he only agrees to knock of two zero's you've still done very well imho.

[mdw]

Exactly what new age said. In the Uk if you were local to me I would CHARGE YOU £200 to take it away and smash it up and dispose of it in a skip. I would be amazed if some one gives you $6k for that.

[Colin Nicholson]

Believe it or not, if you found the missing sconce (right hand brass candle holder) - all complete with brackets (which are both there).... AND original screws X 8.... you could sell those alone for about £30 ish Ebay.... but they must be a complete pair, and matching. The front panel with fine carvings might also sell for about £20.... but the piano 'as a whole' .... well.... probably wouldn't sell.