Just an advice about a piano

algor65 · Post by **algor65** » 24 Jul 2007, 08:08

Hello, I come from Italy, I would like to ask for an advice about a piano. I have at home two vertical pianos one is a

F ELCKE' from Paris - last decades of the 19th century
BINNS BROTHERS from Manchester - first decade of the 20th century

Both are perfect, but both need to be well tuned, because my wife doesn't play piano since many years.

To solve some space problems we need to sell one and we'd like to keep the better one.

Can you please tell me if the first one from Paris is better than the other? What can be an honest estimation for both pianos? Thanks for reading me and thanks for any kind of answer.

PS = This site is wonderful, many compliments to the administrators who created this site.

algor65 · Post by **algor65** » 26 Jul 2007, 10:06

Here are some pictures of the two pianos I have. Can anybody help me to keep the bettter one both for playing it and the piano that is more valuable?

Many thanx in advance

Binn's Brothers piano

http://picasaweb.google.it/dragomanno/P ... 7307115522
http://picasaweb.google.it/dragomanno/P ... 7307115538

F. Elcké piano

http://picasaweb.google.it/dragomanno/P ... 7307115554
http://picasaweb.google.it/dragomanno/P ... 7307115570
http://picasaweb.google.it/dragomanno/P ... 7307115586

David B · Post by **David B** » 26 Jul 2007, 13:57

I don't think either of them would be up to much in terms of playability, I'm afraid, though I suspect that the English piano will be less bad than the other.

As to value in the UK, the French piano is more valuable because its got original candle holders and handles: these have value here, but the pianos do not.

That said, old pianos are more valuable in Italy than here (don't ask me why, when new pianos are actually cheaper than here).

Best to get a local tuner to check them out and advise you.