Been offered a piano

[allisonbennett]

We are are a charity and have been offered a George Rogers piano. It has ivory keys so it is fairly old but we don't have the serial number. I know that it has not been played for over 10 years and the top key string needs replacing. I have uploaded pictures of the piano. Can anyone advise me as to how much it is likely to cost to get the piano moved and tuned ready to play? Allison

[Colin Nicholson]

Hi Allison,

Rogers are a well known make.... British made. Age looks about 1920s - 1930s. The serial number will be inside, possibly near bass strings on the soundboard, or near the tuning pins - and 5 digits. If 1920s, it will start with a number 3 - hence 3XXXX, and if 1930s, will start with a 4. Remove the front panel & music rest combined, and it should be printed somewhere.

Rough ball park figure for a local delivery/ normal ground floor access from A to B and tuning, anything between £100 - £150. Plenty of piano removal companies online, or a white van man will be cheaper. You may need to give some information like distance from A-B / access / steps/ stairs etc.... depending on your location, and possibly dimensions of the piano, and state an UPRIGHT piano, for obvious reasons. Removal costs and tuning may eat into your profits - so be aware. "Ready to play" ....? well, this depends on its condition and how it has been kept - some old pianos cannot be tuned in one visit if any problems with the mechanism - so best to approach a piano tuner by saying first "please could you look at this piano, with a view to tuning it" If all the notes work OK, then no problem.

Hope that helps
Colin

[allisonbennett]

Thank you Colin that was very helpful.

[Colin Nicholson]

Allison,

Depending on what you are selling it for and if tuned or not - a tuning alone does not mean it is in good condition & ready to go. The piano looks to be in reasonable condition - but we can't see the action, or know the strength of the tuning pins. On your price tag/ shop label, you should state "unrestored" .... here is a brief opening ....

George Rogers Upright Piano 1920s
Oak veneered cabinet (might look like Rosewood/ Mahogany stain, but best to say oak)
88 note (ivory/ celluloid) & ebony keyboard / overstrung & under-damped
(Recently tuned?) .... (if tuned, to what pitch?) // needs tuning (adjust wording to suit)
This piano is unrestored/ sold as seen

On invoice: "Sold as seen" .... Price £XXX

This then covers you should there be any tuning/ mechanism issues later in the customer's home.

Ivory is in 2 sections per key, joined in the middle near the black key fronts, where they change from square to long.
If you see no hairline join, then they will be celluloid tops