Collard & Collard Upright

[johnnybo2]

Hi,

my wife has an upright Collard & Collard & is thinking of selling it for something smaller.

We don't know anything about the piano (age or model) & whether the piano is worth anything.

Any help or advice about the piano would be greater received.

Here are links to 3 photo's -

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4474/piano1x.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=piano2u.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=piano3w.jpg

Many thanks in advance.

[Bill Kibby]

It is difficult to say much from so little information, it was probably made arond a century ago, but without being there to test it, nobody is going to give you a valuation. If you find numbers inside, these may help to date it, but it isn't always that simple. Have a look at my Datemarks page at http://www.pianogen.org

It appears that the top door (top front panel) has been modernised, it seems much too plain.

[johnnybo2]

Thanks for that Bill.

I'll have a good look around the piano & post anything I find

[Pianomate]

There's a family in the neighbouring village which has one that looks almost the same. The lady is a piano teacher and gives lessons on it. Is it overstrung and underdamped? Theirs is very nice and great to play but they bought it from a tech who had fully overhauled it. If it is the same, then I wouldn't sell it for something smaller unless it's in bad shape! With pianos, big is beautiful (as far as the sound goes) and size does count.

Price - Everything depends on the condition. Only a tech will be able to tell you.

You can advertise here on this site - a lot of people look at the sales column.

[johnnybo2]

Hi again guys, sorry for the late reply. Work! Need I say more.

Any how, I've managed to find two marks inside the case of the piano.

One is stamped inside on the wood with the number 683.

The other is on the iron work, W3.

Not very much I know

In the meantime my wife has bought a smaller digital piano, so this one must go. Either selling it, if it's worth anything or given away

[Bill Kibby]

683 may well be the last three digits of the serial number, but there must be a longer number somewhere. W3 is not a frame mark I can date. Ordinary local advertising is probably your best bet, this is not an antique or unusual piano.

[Pianomate]

I may be completely wrong but to me the case has a 1920s look - note the single panel in the top board and the shaker style bottom board, and the style of the mouldings at either side under the key bed.

Where is it located?

[johnnybo2]

The piano is located in Swindon.

Thanks for the replies. I'm at a lost where else a serial number could be. The back of the piano is covered by blue cloth & I'm loathed to cut it on the off chance of finding a serial number.

Bearing in mind what you have said I'll probably be looking to give in to a local school, or the such like.

[Pianomate]

Collard and Collard were a respected make and if it's in good order it's probably too good to give to a school where it will get trashed. Many schools now prefer keyboards anyway. Why not post it in the ads on this site? I might have been interested but Swindon is a long way away.

[Gill the Piano]

You could always post it on Freecycle website, where people give stuff away. Several of my customers have found their pianos that way.