Dear Members,
Having difficulty putting your piano into words?
Need a date when your piano was made or information?
Can't find the serial number? (or not one published)?
Need to show a broken/ missing part - dont know its name?
Giving inadequate information or photos ?
If any of the above apply, please send a few photos of your piano including:-
<a> Full front of piano with fallboard lid open (lid that covers keys), inc. pedals/ no stool/ no clutter
<b> Clearly focussed name of piano photo on fallboard lid
<c> Remove front panel, photo of full mechanism (keys, hammers, strings etc)
Just upload your photos onto this forum, follow the instructions below - this is a much better way of us to reply to your questions & queries >>>
First of all download your image onto your PC in "JPG" format, size approx. 15 X10cm (6X4 inches).... about postcard size. (Not TIFF or GIF)
Please remember that even if you provide images of your piano on this forum, they STILL CANNOT be converted into a valuation - see footnotes for more information about "Piano Ratings"
Click on either "New Post" to create a topic, or "POSTREPLY" for an existing one.
Add your text on the page.... then follow the images 1 - 7 below.... click on it to enlarge
(scroll below this image for instructions if needed)
2. Click on "Browse"
3. Find image on your PC (eg Documents) - highlight it/ click on "Open"
4. Your image name will now appear in the box next to "File name"
Click on "Add File"
5. (a) Click in text box where you want the image to go.
(b) Click on "Place inline"
6. Text will reappear with your file name under it (and various sets of [ ] )
7. Click on "Submit" ...... job done!
INVALID FILE?
If a notice appears "Invalid File" - remember that this site does not always support TIFF or GIF files - change the format to JPG and it should download OK.....
This may be useful to date your piano, and verify the serial number - if known (as opposed to a stock or parts number). If your piano does not have a serial number, or if it has one, but it's not listed anywhere, or if your piano name is unknown, then try and upload a few photos of your piano, then someone (usually our resident expert Bill) will be able to suggest a date. Depending on your enquiry, we may need another photo of your piano as directed.
# Take a photo of the name of the piano on the front lid
# Take a photo of the serial number inside (if found) - this is not on the lid, but usually near the tuning pins or on the soundboard.
# Take a photo of the internal mechanism (not from the top - please remove the front panel completely, and take photo from the front view - clear & focussed - not too far away)
PIANO RATINGS
Providing us with a photo or 2 of your piano does not mean it can now be valued - see "HISTORY, NOT VALUATION" at the top of the History section.
Photos are more valuable than just written text in that they may tell us more information about the age of your piano, what design and model etc. and provide you with other information; possibly fault diagnosis, or other problems.
Depending on who is dealing with your enquiry, it may be possible however to give an approximate rating for your piano, from ****** (6 stars) to just * (1 star) - based purely on the experience of the experts. Depending on the rating (available upon request) - you can then decide if it is worth making an appointment with a piano tuner/ technician/ historian or auctioneer to determine the true value of your piano.
Based on some research - here are the ratings:-
6 star = Concert Standard (Superb quality)
5 star = Excellent
4 star = Very good
3 star = OK to good
2 star = Lacking something/ below average
1 star = "Noisy furniture" - Viking's funeral expected
