Secondhand Piano Questions

“Old piano in need of TLC”

Dear Sir/Madam,

I live in Herne Hill (SE24) and recently acquired a somewhat out-of-shape
upright piano

– I rescued it from the street where it was dumped but it badly needs tuned!

It probably needs more than a tune (some of the lower keys play two notes at
once…!) but I was hoping just to get it to a standard where I can just play
around on it.

Can you give me an idea of how much it would cost to have it tuned, and whether
you might be able to help?

Thanks in advance.

Best wishes,

Lucy

Reply/ Hi Lucy

It sounds like the piano may be in trouble…

Keys stuck together could mean that water
has got inside. This could be a major issue
if it’s got onto the strings.

If you open the lid you’ll be able to see
if there is any rust.

If you would like us to send a piano tuner
then give me a call on 020 8367 2080.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

 

“Is my old piano worth anything? It has ivory keys”

Hello Graham  – please can you confirm what I have been told over and over by a number of tuners and others
in the piano business  – that our old upright (circa 1921) is worth practically nothing.

I accept that it can’t be tuned properly any more, that the action is looser than the village whore, that
all the hammers want attention etc etc and that the cost of righting all these wrongs would be prohibitive.

I had more or less decided on a digital after reading your excellent book, but this morning a friend raised
the question of whether the keys (presumably ivory in a piano of that age) could be worth something.

Again referring to something you say on your web site, having been brought up playing uprights, I am beginning
to wonder whether a digital piano, however advanced, is the right answer for me after all.  I am reasonably
competent – (ALCM standard when 19 though most certainly not now!) and love to play Debussy, Chopin and on a
good day the odd Rachmaninov prelude – and which I’ve not been able to enjoy doing for a long time on my old
clapped out upright.

Unfortunately, times is hard  – and there is no way I can afford the £2,500 you say would be the cost of a
replacement upright – unless ivory really is worth something.

I plan to visit your place in Enfield in the near future and have a good look at what you have. In the mean
time is it worth trying to get something for this one or should I just get rid?

Thanks again for your comprehensive guide,

Best wishes Rose.

Reply/ Hi Rose

From reading what you said, I doubt your piano is
worth anything at all. Ivory piano keys aren’t
worth anything.

You might consider giving it away or selling it
for a nominal amount. At least you won’t have the
expense of trying to dispose of it.

The ukpianos.co.uk ‘Market Place’ would be the best
place to do this.

Some pianos have sold in 1-2 days… and most within
2 weeks. It’s a very busy place.

Here’s the link: marketplace.ukpianos.co.uk

If you decide to go the digital piano route then
you might consider the Classenti range of pianos.

Classenti digital pianos have heavy-weighted keys,
so they play very much like acoustic pianos.

If you come to our store then I can show you our
range of digital and upright pianos. Our digital pianos
start from £450 and upright pianos from £900.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

 

“I’m looking for a decent secondhand piano for my 12 year old grand daughter”

Hope you do not think I have too much of a cheek but my grand daughter aged 12 has just passed her class ! and is looking for a decent secondhand piano.  A very good friend has offered me a 1940 Bentley in good condition and has no idea how much to charge me.  Could you be very kind and give me some idea how much it is valued and what I should pay him

Maurice

Reply/ Hi Maurice

A Bentley piano from the 1940’s might be OK.

It really depends on the piano’s inner working parts.
The best thing to do is ask a local piano tuner to come
and look it over for you.

You can find one here: www.ukpianos.co.uk/piano-tuners

He will also be able to give you an idea of how much
it is worth.

‘If’ it is in good condition, then a rough price would be
£300 – £400.

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

 

“Have you heard of Lyric pianos?”

Hello Graham,

I recently saw a movie called the Bucket List, and two blokes made a list of things they would have liked to have done before they ‘kick the bucket’.  All of my life I have wanted to play the piano, and after seeing this movie and deciding to make my own list, I bought a piano.

It is a fine looking piano, with the name Lyric and a number on the inside  78988  O16

I was interested in finding out some history on it when I came across your site with a person with a similar question to mine.

I have no idea how to play the piano either, my journey begins.  My goal is to play “The Heart Asks Pleasure First” by Christmas.

whatdoyoureckonaboutthatthen.

I am 55 and Australian living in Perth.

How hard do you think it will be for me to learn to read music and apply that knowledge to a keyboard.

kind regards

Sandy Foster

Reply/ Hi Sandy

Lyric pianos were made by Wurlitzer in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I believe anyone can learn to play piano. It all depends on
how much you practice and, of course, what you practice.

You might want to start out with my free 5-part piano course.
Check it out here:
https://www.ukpianos.co.uk/free-online-piano-lessons.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

 

“Can you please provide me with some information on my piano?”

All I know is that it is an upright piano under the lid is the name D HAMMOND & CO London I am unable to find any information about this piano.I wolud say it would need work done to it to restore it & has been in in my house for over 60 years.

Thanks, Martin Sharkey

Reply/ Hi Martin

D Hammond & Co is not a name I recognise.

It is more than likely that a London piano shop bought
this piano from a London factory and put the name of
their shop (or the owners name) on the piano.

It is unlikely to be worth anything at all.

To get a proper valuation you need to call in a local
piano tuner.

You can find one here: www.ukpianos.co.uk/piano-tuners

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

 

“We have just acquired from next door a piano (upright) with the name Sterndale”

Do you know anything about this particular make?

Hi Simon

I have not heard of this make. It is possible that the name Sterndale was added to the piano at a later date or it is the name of the piano shop that used to sell these pianos as new years ago.

Regards,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

 

Question/ I have recently been given a Gebr Niendorf piano

I have been told it has been looked after externally but hasn’t been tuned for a number of years. As I have no piano knowledge please could you tell me what I need to do to get it tuned to allow my two children and myself to learn to play on this piano? Is it ecenomical to refurbish it?

Best regards, Darren

Answer/ Hi Darren
Gebr. Niendorf pianos where made in Luckenwalde, Germany. Production began around the year 1896.Your piano is not as old as that though.

Looking at the picture you sent me, I can see that your piano has some lovely ornate carvings and stylish legs. It is hard to put an exact date on this piano without checking the inside. I recommend to find a local piano tuner to come around and check it out. He/she will advise of the current condition and how much it will cost to have it tuned or refurbished. You can find a list of piano tuners here:
www.ukpianos.co.uk/piano-tuners

 

Axtens piano

Question/ Greetings from Canada.

I recently was given an upright piano by my parents. I am trying to find a history of it and so far have had no luck.
The piano is oak. Its measurements are 58″L, 50″H, 26″W. The name on it is AXTENS and there is an address
14 Carlingford Street, Liverpool. I think it was built in the early 1900s. Any information you could pass on would be appreciated.
Thank you
David Van Manen

Answer/ Hi David
Axtens is a name I have never heard of before. I have just done a few searches on the internet and NOTHING comings up.
It is highly likely that Axtens was the name of the piano shop in Liverpool and they had that name put on some of their pianos.

Does anyone else own an Axtens piano, or know anything more about them. Please share your knowledge with us.

 

“Have you heard of Eastleigh pianos?”

Question/ Hi there

I just bought a flat and included in the sale was a piano. I am not looking to get rid of it as I love pianos and can play, but it is a brand called Eastleigh and I have never heard of this brand before. I live in Southampton and there is a place called Eastleigh near us I wondered if the piano could of been locally made. A search of the internet has not yelded any results. Can you shed any light on the make of this piano.

Many thanks, Miss Tiffanie Wells

Answer/ Hi Miss Wells

I have never heard of an Eastleigh piano. It is more than likely that this is an old piano and was made in London (as most pianos around 80-120 years old where).

What used to happen was a piano shop would buy a piano from a local factory and have the name of their shop (which could have been Eastleigh pianos?) printed on the piano.Obviously Eastleigh Pianos do not exist anymore. This is most likely where this name comes from.

Regards, Graham Howard, UK Pianos

Further Comments/

I think you are right, on closer inspection I found there is another name
and it would appear the whole name of the Piano is

W.C Hedges “Eastleigh”

Thanks for putting my question up.

Tiffanie

 

Question/ Hello,

My name is Milan Gucic, I am from Belgrade, Serbia…

I would like to ask for a estimation of my family Hofmann Pianino from around 1920s

Can you tell me anything about this pianino or send me any useful links?
Thank you very much in advance!

Milan Gucic

Answer/ Hi Milan

Your piano doesn’t seem to be an original Hoffmann (yours is spelt ‘Hofmann’. So I am not entirely sure where it comes from or how much it’s worth.

If you can find a local piano tuner to come and take a look at it, you will probably be able to get a more accurate estimation of its value.

Regards,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Further comments/ Hello Mr. Graham,

I would like to thank you for a kind and detailed reply! This pianino was bought by my grandmother from a director of Singer machines for a Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians after the 1.W.W.

Thanks again!!!

Milan Gucic

 

“I took a piano out of the trash last week and can’t find any information on it…”

The name inside is Benj. Curtaz & Sons….it has two numbers inside…11149 and 17807. I’d like to know how old it is and where it came from if possible. I’m going to try to restore it….it was painted bright blue with faces drawn all over it and writing done in markers.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for any help you can give me.

Cathy Klein

Reply/ Hi Cathy

Benj Curtaz Pianos are no longer produced and in their day where not a popular piano.

A Curtaz piano – because of its age – today is unlikely to be worth anything at all, perhaps only retaining a sentimental value. I can’t find any listings of Curtaz piano serial numbers, so I am unable to tell you the age or where it comes from.

Unlike other antiques, pianos do not appreciate in value unless they are a famous brand and extremely well maintained (i.e. tuned regularly, kept in ideal constant temperatures, or fully restored).

You say that you picked the piano out of the trash?

You need to make sure that it hasn’t got wet on the inside, look out for rust on the strings and
tuning pins. Also check the keys, if they press down easily and you can repeat the note quickly
then it is a good sign that water has not got into the working parts of the piano.

If water has got in, I wouldn’t attempt to restore it – you are taking on a huge amount of work
that – when completed – will probably not be satisfactory for you.

Assuming the piano is fine. You say that it is painted blue. From my experience, you will have a
big job on your hands trying to remove the paint. I have restored many painted pianos and
removing that paint can take several coats of Nitromorse and A LOT OF PATIENCE.

Good luck with your restoration and let me know if you need any advice.

Regards,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

 

Grand piano part exchange

Question/ Hello,

I have just come across your website as I currently have a baby grand piano
which is too big to take with me to my new home. I am reluctant to let it go
but have decided that I will change it for an upright. I have had it for 20
years and it’s walnut, 5ft and the make is Kemble, although that’s been
changed at some point as there is a name underneath which you can just make
out and that’s Carlberg.

I have recently had it valued but the values range between £600-£900. For
ease, it would be great to arrange some sort of part exchange. Is this
something you can offer? I would prefer to buy an upright of the same sort
of colour/wood and looking for a traditional upright.

I look forward to hearing from you if you feel you can be of assistance.

Kind regards, Claire

Answer/ Hi Claire

We may be able to part exchange it for you.

When you have time, pop in to our piano showroom in Enfield
(83 Southbury Road) and take a look at the range of upright
pianos we have on offer.

If we have the type of piano you’re looking for then we should be
able to come to an agreeable arrangement.

Otherwise…

You may want to just sell your piano in the ukpianos.co.uk
‘Piano Market’. It’s free to list your piano.

Here is the link:
https://www.ukpianos.co.uk/piano-market-buy-or-sell-used-pianos.html

Regards,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

 

 

Neufeld piano

Question/ I am enquiring about a piano and wonder if you may be able to provide me with some more information.
The piano has the name L.Neufeld and is an over strung, iron frame, upright grand piano. With #10096 stamped next to the name.

The piano was ‘manufactured expressly for’ Jens.V.Hoffmann – sole agent. (1 Glovers Terrace and 1 + 2 Woodbine Street. South Shields)

The plate above the Keys states L.Neufeld, Berlin and has 4 exhibition medals. The medals are written in what appear to be German and have a few different years printed on them, 1879, 1880, 1881.

I believe the piano is made from walnut or is walnut veneered. I can provide photos if this would help.
The piano needs some restoration work/minor repairs and I am interested to find out if it holds any value.

Thanks for your time, any information you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Sarah Moss

Answer/ Hi Sarah. The piano sounds like it is quite old (around 1885) so it probably isn’t
worth much.Generally the older the piano the less it is worth. This is
because pianos rarely have an antique value – unless they are one
of a kind and over 150 years old.

The only way to get a proper valuation would be to ask a local piano
tuner to come and take a look at it.

The value of the piano depends on the condition of the parts inside.

 

Question/ Hi!! I have a piano “Adolf Neuburger” and would like to sell it.

Unfortunately I have no idea what I could ask for it as I can hardly find any information about it. Could you help me??

Answer/ All I can tell you about this piano is that it was made in Vienna, Austria. It was not one of the
popular pianos and not many of them were produced.

As far as the value goes, I recommend to get a piano tuner come and give it a valuation.
You can find a list here: https://www.ukpianos.co.uk/piano-tuners.html

Regards,
Graham Howard