Collard and Collard Grand Piano

[Jade2287]

Hi, I hope someone can help. I am currently helping a relative clear out their home and they have a lovely collard and collard piano but none of us has any idea of its history or value. I have some pictures if someone could have a look? I am not sure where to find the serial numbers on this if anyone could help with that too?

Kind regards,

Jade

[Bill Kibby]

You won't be able to trace the history of an individual Collard piano, and nobody anywhere can guess the value or condition of a piano without inspecting it on the spot, and tuning it, so ask your local tuner. I would be interested to see the photos, and if you can't post them here, you can press the email button on your right and send them to me to post.

Mainly, Collard grand serial numbers will be found inside the top of the piano, especially the area underneath the music desk, which probably slides out. Removable parts of the piano may also be imprinted with the last 3 digits of the main number, which is probably 5 or 6 digits. See the Collard lists about halfway down the page at
http://pianogen.org/numbers.html

[Jade2287]

Thank you Bill.
I will have a look for the serial number when I get back home. The piano does need tuning, although quite how much restoration it needs I'm unsure. It looks in good condition to me cosmetically but I would have no idea about the operational aspects. I have attached the pictures for you to have a look at.

Thanks again,

Jade

[Colin Nicholson]

Various information and general history (of the company) can be found online about Collard.
To get a general ball park figure for "Collard grands" (not yours) - have a look here >>
http://www.pianoauctions.co.uk/past_sal ... 25-09-2014

Where is says "Estimate" - right hand column, just click the down arrow to select previous auctions.
I had a quick look, but no Collard grands.... have a browse and go back through the years.

If you decide to sell your piano privately (e.g. Ebay/ gumtree) - the serial number / age of the piano is important.
Ask your local piano tuner.... it's a unique number, usually either stamped into the wood/ decal form/ numbers in black, approx. 2cm in height.... and NOT written in pencil or pen.

You also need to state the piano 'size' category the grand falls within.... if you look at the auctions above, they always state the length in feet & inches. Depending on its length, it can be either a 'Baby grand' / 'Grand' / or 'Concert Grand' See diagram below for an idea. .... this is for your selling info only, for your advert.

The value also depends on the internal condition of the mechanism/ hammers/ dampers etc.... and most important, the condition of the strings, tuning pin torque and general condition of the wrest plank (where the tuning pins are driven into) .... remove the music rest to reveal the tuning pins. A tradesman would examine this part very closely indeed. Also - value - can depend on the 'history' of the tunings/ service work/ mechanism regulation / stool included? .... and possibly the original receipt.... all good selling points, but may only create some interest in viewing. Generally speaking, grands are harder to sell than uprights - so 'key wording' is important.... like selling a decent vintage car. No good just saying "I have an E type for sale" .... need loads more info.

You are recommended to contact either a reputable tuner/ restorer (one who knows about valuation - not just a tuner).... or contact your local music/piano shop. Grands take up a lot of room - so the market for old grand pianos may be against you - unless the price is right.

Hope that helps....

Grand Piano sizes categories

[Bill Kibby]

Piano Auctions Ltd. have made their own definition of grand sizes, mine are based on many years in the trade. To quote
http://pianohistory.info/grand.html

The convention in the modern British trade is to call anything up to five feet a “Baby Grand”, anything over seven feet a “Concert Grand”, and anything between a “Boudoir Grand”, but terms were by no means standard in the 1800s, and Victorian names like grand, semi-grand and short grand (or in America, parlor grand) were not consistently defined. (At a time when bedrooms in large houses were surprisingly public, the boudoir was a room for private time alone, perfectly appropriate for piano playing.) When small grands were rarely seen, the term “Baby Grand” might be applied to some as long as 5’10”, for example Erard made 88-note baby grands of that size around 1901. These were not especially small for the period, and Hugo Sohmer had made a 5’ grand in 1884, although it wasn’t called a baby grand.

[Jade2287]

Thank you so much for you help Colin & Bill. That helps a lot. I will contact my local piano tuners to see if someone can have a look at it. Can any of you guess what type of wood this is? I know some are veneer but I thought this one may be rosewood?

Thanks again,

Jade