Definition of a Vintage Piano

By Joseph Hanerfeld of Craftsman Piano

A vintage piano is not simply an old piano. A vintage piano must have a real value. A Wurlitzer piano made in the early 1900’s is simply an old piano, while a Steinway piano of the same era would be considered vintage. What is the difference? The answer is simply quality and value. The vintage piano is valuable primarily because it’s potential for beautiful sound and appearance, and secondarily because of the name Steinway. The value of the vintage piano is enhanced by the retention of the original case parts and ivory keys. This is especially true if the piano has a unique case. Examples of this would be a Louis XV case, or a Centennial D with serpentine legs, original ivories, and a cut out music rack. However, a straight legged Steinway from the 1940’s would also be considered a vintage piano, albeit of lesser value, solely for the potential beauty of the sound and simple elegance of the case.

Vintage pianos: Potential value versus realization of potential.

To illustrate this topic I will use the example of a Steinway rosewood A with flower pot legs, cut out music rack, and original ivory keys. This is a vintage piano in un-playable condition.



This piano has a lot of potential value because the rosewood veneer is salvageable; the piano has all its original parts, and has potential for being a marvelous musical instrument. To fully realize this potential, the piano must be fully restored to its original condition.

In the example (below) of this Steinway A the original sound board, pin block and action are un-usable and must be replaced. If this is not done the full potential value of this vintage piano could never be realized because the piano would never play correctly. At the same time, the case of the piano would need to be restored with the original parts to realize the full potential value of the piano.




The Soul of a Vintage Piano
There is a difference between a properly restored vintage Steinway and a factory produced piano of any brand. Again I will illustrate this with an example. Picture a Yamaha C7 (7 ft. 5 in.) and a restored vintage Steinway B (6 ft. 11 in.) sitting side by side in a room with good acoustics. You sit down to play the C 7, and it is a marvelous piano. You move over to the Steinway B to compare the sound and touch. As you play you realize that there is a subtle difference in the sound. The Steinway has a warmer, more resonant and responsive sound and touch. You realize that the sound of this piano is truly unique. It cannot be duplicated exactly no matter how hard you might try. Here are the reasons. The Yamaha has been built in a factory. Each part of the assembly of the piano has been mechanized as much as possible. The screws are all tightened exactly the same. The tolerances of the bridge notches and pins are exact. The result is a wonderful mass produced piano. In comparison the restored vintage Steinway is stripped down by hand, refinished by hand, the raw finish is rubbed by hand in a process that takes weeks. The best color for the finish is chosen specifically for that piano. Next, the sound board, pin block and bridge caps are replaced. The sound board is crowned on a belly table made by the belly man. Each table has different characteristics. Each belly man works in his own way, and all of his pianos have qualities recognizable as his work. Next, the action is stripped, cleaned, re felted, reassembled, regulated, and voiced in a process that takes weeks. The best action parts are considered specifically for the character of the sound that is desired for that piano. Once the piano is strung and tuned the tone regulation begins. Again this work proceeds with the purpose of bringing out the character of that one particular piano. The result is a piano that has something more than the sum of its parts. It is unique in touch and sound. It has the individual stamp of everyone that has worked on it. It has a unique history going back though the years to the craftsman who originally created the piano sometimes more than a hundred years ago through the restoration process which is totally individual to this piano.

Vintage pianos: Real value in a practical world
It is very well to talk of the beauty of the piano and its marvelous sound, and its soul. What does this all mean in the real world?
Vintage Steinway pianos as an investment
Your primary investment in the purchase of a vintage piano is in the satisfaction that you get from playing, and looking at the piano. This is the intrinsic value of the piano and is completely subjective. The monetary value of the piano can be identified by comparison shopping. First we will consider vintage Steinways in as is condition. This means that full restoration is needed. Here are realistic wholesale prices that a dealer would typically pay for each model of piano needing full restoration.
Steinway S, 5 ft 1 in. $4,500.00
Steinway M, 5 ft. 7 in. $5,500.00
Steinway O, L, 5 ft 10 ½ in. up to $8,500.00
Steinway A1, 6 ft. 2 in. up to $9,500.00
Steinway A2, 6 ft. 1 in. up to $9,500.00
Steinway A3, 6 ft. 4 in. up to $11,000.00
Steinway B, 6 ft 11 in. up to $14,000.00
Steinway C, 7 ft. 5 in. up to$17,000.00
Steinway D 8 ft. 11 in. up to $22,000.00
These are wholesale prices for ebony pianos with straight legs. Dealers would usually pay a premium for wood tone pianos with ornate or art case styles. A premium is sometime paid for usable ivories.
Here is a spreadsheet giving the retail prices for most common models and styles of restored Steinway vintage grand pianos. This can be verified by comparison shopping.


Now that you know more than you ever wanted to about vintage Steinway pianos I will include some pictures depicting the various styles of legs ie. Flower Pot Ice Cream Cone, Tulip, Serpentine, Louis XV.


Flower pot legs on upturned Steinway D


Louis XV Mahogany A


Mahogany Steinway M with Modern Steinway Legs


Victorian Steinway B with window pane legs
Another name for the legs is tiffany


Mahogany O with window pane legs


Victorian A with Ice cream cone legs


Serpentine Legged Cut Down Centennial D


Tulip Leg Steinway Mahogany B

Other makes of valuable vintage pianos

There are several other brands of piano that have value as vintage pianos. They are Mason and Hamlin, Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Bluthner, etc. These pianos can be extremely satisfying to play, but do not have the investment value of Steinway pianos. Furthermore they are harder and more expensive to restore properly.
If you have read up to this point you will have the basic knowledge of what a vintage Steinway Piano is. You will also have a good idea of what an as is Steinway grand piano in need of restoration should cost as well as what a vintage restored Steinway piano should cost.

Remember that no search for a vintage restored piano is complete without a trip to Craftsman Piano Sales and Service.

Joe Hanerfeld
Craftsman Piano Co.
www.craftsmanpiano.net

Craftsman Piano Co. becomes distributor for Northwest Specialty Woods Sound Boards

Joe Hanerfeld, owner of Craftsman Piano, Yonkers, NY, has announced that starting immediately, his company will distribute Northwest Specialty Woods sound boards and use them in his own piano restorations as well. “Because I wanted to make the sitka boards from Northwest Specialty the primary sound board we use, I asked them if we could become a distributor. They said yes. Northwest Specialty has promised to send me at least a dozen sound boards by the end of October. I am in the process of setting up a room in which to cure these boards so they will be ready for immediate use. They will be available locally to piano restorers one at a time or in bulk,” said Hanerfeld.

"After much side by side comparison I feel that the Northwest Specialty sound boards produce the best sound of any that I have tried. Properly cured, they have proved to be durable over the years. Not even one of our boards has ever cracked .Craftsman Piano Co. is looking forward to working with the people at Northwest Specialty Woods, local piano restorers, and my own clients to produce the highest quality restored pianos possible."

A Tale of Two Pianos

On my inventory list I have two pianos that are difficult to classify. They are both Mason and Hamlin BB’s. This means that they are seven ft. grand pianos. This is not what makes them unusual. Most of the time my company works to restore pianos. We take a piano which has deteriorated through time, and restore it to it’s original condition. This does not apply to these two BB’s. These pianos were manufactured by Mason and Hamlin in the 1980’s. However, they were never assembled. They sat neglected in a warehouse for years. Then several years ago two of these manufactured pianos came to my shop to be assembled. The job was not easy. The process of assembling these pianos was far more difficult than restoring a typical Mason BB. However, the results justified all the hard work. These pianos are gorgeous. They are every bit as fine a piano as if Mason and Hamlin assembled them in their factory. But, how should I classify these pianos? They have not been restored, but calling them new implies a connection with the Mason and Hamlin Company that doesn’t exist. How about saying that they were manufactured by Mason and Hamlin, but assembled by Craftsman Piano Co. That is an accurate description, and an excellent combination.

These pianos are located at the warehouse/showroom/workshop of Craftsman Piano Co. 578 Nepperhan Ave., Yonkers, NY.

www.craftsmanpiano.net

jspha440@aol.com


914-476-6704

Baldwin Acrosonic Spinet for sale at Craftsman Piano

Baldwin Acrosonic Spinet

$1,500

Year: 1960’s
Size: 42 in.
Color: Walnut
Finish: Satin
Action Parts: Original
Sound Board: Original

Description: This is a reliable good sounding, reconditioned, beginner student piano. It is small and would fit very nicely in a typical living room. This piano is a great value.

Located at 578 Nepperhan Ave. in Yonkers, NY Craftsman Piano Co. is a full service piano restoration and sales facility. We use only the finest materials, and we pride ourselves on doing concert quality work. This is an invitation to come and see our work shop and our pianos. You will find superb quality, and very competitive prices. A list of our inventory, pictures, descriptions, and videos, can be seen on our web site, www.craftsmanpiano.net .

Our services include: Tuning, new key tops, action repairs, refinishing, sales, new soundboard, new pin blocks, rebuilding, and complete restoration.

Craftsman Piano: Convert your old Piano to a Desk

Many old family upright pianos present a dilemma. The case of the piano is beautiful, the piano has sentimental family value, but the piano is no longer a musical instrument which can function properly. The cost to restore the piano to usefulness is prohibitive. What to do? Here is a possible solution. The piano could be turned into a desk, a computer station, a stand for keyboards hooked into a midi system, etc.

Recently one of my clients faced this dilemma. She had a piano which had been in her family from the time her parents were children. This piano was cherished by the family, and had been moved from place to place as the family moved. The problem was that the piano did not work well enough for the children to take lessons on. The family purchased another piano leaving the old upright piano to take up a corner of their living room. The client came up with the idea to convert the piano into a desk. She was referred to me and explained her idea. I thought that her idea was an elegant solution to a problem that I encounter frequently. The result is shown in the picture below.


There are many beautiful upright pianos with rare veneers and ornate cases and legs. These kinds of pianos will likely never be available again. The turn of the century craftsmanship would be far too time consuming to be practical in our modern world. It seems a dreadful waste to throw these pianos out. Turning the piano into a functional piece of furniture seems to be a far better solution than putting what is really a piece of art in the garbage. For this reason Craftsman Piano Co. will provide this service.

Please call Joe Hanerfeld at 914-476-6704 or visit our web site at www.craftsmanpiano.net.

Piano plate welding at Craftsman Piano, Yonkers NY

Master piano plate welder, Victor Apuango, demostrates his craft as Joe Hanerfeld, of Craftsman Piano, speaks about plate welding at his Yonkers, NY piano showroom.

PianoDisc Player Demonstration at Craftsman Piano

Buying a Used Piano and the Prices You Should Expect to Pay

The first step in buying a used piano is determining your budget. Here is a detailed explanation what you can expect at the different price points.

1. Under $500.00: You will have to do your own research. You will need some luck to find anything usable. Do yourself a huge favor and have the piano checked by a qualified piano technician before you pay for it, or have it moved to your house. If you do not you may find yourself in the unenviable situation of having to pay to have the piano junked.

2. Under $1,000.00: Same as above, but taking twice the financial risk.

3. Under $1,500.00: For this price you can, with luck, find a reconditioned spinet or console from a dealer. The dealer is likely to have taken the piano in on trade. A piano like this will be reconditioned. This means the piano has been cleaned inside and out, and the action has been given a once over to make sure the piano will play reliably. The case will be polished. Some kind of warranty will be given. At this price point you should expect that the piano plays properly and holds a tuning. However, it would be unrealistic to expect a great sounding, musically inspiring piano. The piano will almost certainly be at least forty years old

4. Under $2,000.00: Same as above, but with a more attractive cabinet. At this price point you would expect the piano to be at least thirty years old.

5. Under $3,000.00: Now you are getting to the point where you can expect to get a decent musical instrument. At this price point you should be able to find a console or studio upright that has a good musical sound, and a solid touch to the action. The best examples of pianos in this price range are Yamaha, Kawai, Young Chang, Sammick, and Sohmer. Yamaha would be the best in this category. You should be looking at pianos no older than the mid-1970s for Yamaha, and no older than the mid-1980s for the others.

6. $3,500.00- $4,500.00: This is a realistic price range at which you can find a piano that an advanced student can use to grow his pianistic abilities. The best pianos to get in this price range are Yamaha and Kawai 48 in. to 52 in. upright pianos. These are the instruments that you find in the practice rooms of universities and music schools. At the low end of the price range you find older pianos. I can’t recommend any piano older than 1975. There is also a nice subcategory in this price range. Charles Walter and Sons make a very high quality console. This is the best made American upright other than Steinway. The case of these pianos is beautifully made. The voice of the piano can be made satisfactory by an expert technician.

7. $4,500.00- $5,500.00: The same as above, but the pianos should be from the 90’s. There are models of Yamaha that have posts in the back in the shape of an X instead of vertical parallel posts. These pianos have a superior design. I have included them in this category because they have a potential for a warmer, richer sound. In my opinion this is as much as anyone would need to spend for a used upright piano.

8. Rule #1: If your budget is lower than $7,500.00 do not even look at grand pianos. Unless you are very lucky you are likely to wind up with a piano that would require unrealistically expensive repairs. Here is a common example. John Doe purchases a Knabe grand piano for $500.00. He is all excited because his child will begin lessons and needs a piano on which to practice. He spends a further $300.00 to get the piano moved to his house. Even though John does not know much about pianos he knows that it is out of tune. He calls a tuner and finds out that the piano will not hold a tune because the pin block is too loose. He finds that the pin block cannot be replaced unless the piano is rebuilt. The repair bill is $6,000.00 to replace the pin block, replace the strings, the dampers, and tune the piano up to pitch and get the action to work properly. John has just wasted $800.00 on a piano that is unusable unless he spends an extra $6,000.00. John will likely be spending another $300.00 to have the piano removed.

9. $7,500- $10,000.00: You are in a good place with lots of possibilities. In this price range you should be able to purchase a small Korean or Japanese piano from a dealer. Common brands in this price and size range are Yamaha, Young Chang, Kawai, Boston, and Sammick. You can go as old as 1975 for a Yamaha grand in this price range, and for the other brands you should go no older than 1985.

10. $10,000.00 -$15,000.00: In this price range you should expect to find very good quality Yamaha and Kawai grand pianos up to 6 ft. 5 in. Good models are Yamaha G2, G3, C1, C2, C3, C5, and Kawai KG2, KG3, KG5, RX2, RX3.

Also in this category you will find rebuilt and refinished grand pianos from reputable piano rebuilders. These pianos will also have rebuilt actions. Typical brands are Chickering, Knabe, Baldwin, Broadwood, Sohmer, and many lesser known, but equally good brands. At this price range you should expect five-year warranties to be included in the price of the piano.

11. $15,000.00 -$20,000.00: You are now in reconditioned Steinway and Mason and Hamlin country. This is ”no country for old men”. You will be paying a lot of money for a piano THAT WILL EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE RESTORED. The price of restoration for a Steinway M (5 ft. 7 in.) is $20,000.00. The price of restoration for a Steinway D (concert grand) is $30,000.00. In my opinion, which is supported by thirty years of experience, it is more economical and satisfying to take the next step and get a fully refinished, rebuilt or restored piano.

12. $20,000.00 and up. Here are realistic prices for the different models of rebuilt and refinished or restored Steinway and Mason and Hamlin pianos:
Steinway S typically rebuilt and refinished with new action $23,000-$25,000
Mason T typically rebuilt and refinished with new action $19,000.00 -$23,000
Steinway M rebuilt and refinished with new action $25,000- $30,000
Mason A with new restored with new sound board and new action $25,000.00-$30,000.00
Steinway O restored $32,000.00-$38,000.00
Steinway A restored $35,000.00-$50,000.00
Mason AA restored $35,000.00
Steinway B restored $45,000.00- $70,000.00
Mason BB restored $45,000.00- $50,000.00
Steinway C restored $55,000-$85,000.00
Steinway D restored $65,000.00-$150,000.00
Mason CC $55,000.00- $65,000.00

Rule #2: Unless you are buying a piano from a well know piano restoration house that is giving you a five-year warranty you need a piano professional to look at the piano for you.

Rule #3: A GOOD UPRIGHT IS A MUCH BETTER PIANO THAN A CRUMMY GRAND PIANO…AND MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE.

Do not develop “analysis paralysis” or you will be looking for the perfect piano forever. Stick to your budget, buy from a reputable dealer who gives a warranty, and have a piano professional validate your choice. I have been doing this for thirty years. How hard can it be?

Good luck finding a piano!

Joe Hanerfeld,
Craftsman Piano Co.

Craftsman Piano Presents Concert and Piano Sale at 7th Annual YOHO Artists Open Studio

Craftsman Piano Sales and Service Co., in conjunction with YOHO Artist Studios, is proud to present Oxana Mikhailoff and Dr. Yelena Grinberg in concert on April 17 and 18. Ms. Mikhailoff will perform a concert of Chopin on Sat. Apr. 17. Dr. Grinberg will perform a concert of Bach and Mendelssohn on Sun. Apr 18.

The location of the concerts will be the warehouse showroom of Craftsman Piano Co., located at 578 Nepperhan Ave., Yonkers, NY 10701. Their will be a post-concert collation attended by the pianists, and a tour of Craftsman Piano Co. where pianos can be seen in all stages of restoration. The artists will also be available to demonstrate the pianos. See a preview online at www.craftsmanpiano.net. Directions are available on the website.

Date: Sat/Sun Apr 17 - 18. 12 noon to 5 PM
**Open to Public***
Tel: (914) 476- 6704
Light refreshments will be served.

For more information:
Contact us: 578 Nepperhan Ave., Yonkers, NY 10701 (914) 476-6704 www.craftsmanpiano.net
(914) 476-6704. For information on the performers, please visit their websites,
www.oxanamikhailoff.com and www.yelenagrinberg.com

1914 Steinway B Mahogany Grand Piano: Craftsman Piano

1914 Steinway B # 166383 Mahogany 7 ft. 1 in, for sale at www.CraftsmanPiano.net for $55,000.00. Call (914) 476-6704. This piano has been completely restored using a sitka spruce sound board, Renner action parts, and Genuine Hamburg Steinway Hammers. The piano has also been refinished to a satin luster mahogany finish. This piano is a true pianists friend. It will help bring out the best in any pianist. The piano is very responsive. It allows the pianist easy access to musical coloration and shading that would impossible in a lesser piano. This piano is a big success. Please come and try it. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum by Claude Debussy, performed by Joseph Hanerfeld.

Doesn’t the piano have to “play”? A funny story from Joe Hanerfeld of Craftsman Piano Co.

Years ago a colleague of mine made the ill advised decision to purchase six Louis XIV Steinway pianos of various sizes. These are beautiful ornate Steinway pianos, mahogany or walnut, with exquisitely carved French legs. These are beautiful pianos. The problem with them is that they are very hard to sell. Why? Because they are very expensive, they are very ornate, they are not suitable for most households because they over power the rest of the décor. My friend’s dilemma was that he had six pianos totaling over $300,000.00 in value, and not enough cash to maintain his expenses. Into this equation stepped a chance client of mine. She wanted a Louis XIV mahogany Steinway B. Nothing else would do. My friend shipped the piano to my shop. The client arrived ten minutes after the piano was set up and tuned. She fell in love with the piano immediately. Just as immediately she started to renegotiate the price. My friend had no alternative but to sell the piano so he agreed to her demands. Everyone breathe d a big sigh of relief. The client signed the check and handed it to me. Then she made one more demand. The piano would have to have an electronic Pianomation player unit installed within two days. I told her that would not be possible. She started reaching for her check. In desperation I asked her why she needed the Pianomation. She said that her husband’s company was having a very important party in two days and the piano “has to play, doesn’t it?”. This was a wealthy sophisticated lady, yet she just didn’t realize that she could hire a pianist to perform at her husband’s party. I was able to recommend a pianist to her. It was the beginning of a relationship that lasted until this client moved away.

Craftsman Piano Company of Yonkers to participate in 2010 YOHO Arts Festival

Joe Hanerfeld, of Craftsman Piano Co., in Yonkers, NY has announced that his company will participate in the annual YO HO Artist Exhibit, in Yonkers, NY. The dates are Sat. and Sun. Apr. 18. There will be art and pianos, food and entertainment. In the past these events have been a big success with a good time had by all. 12:00 to 5:00 PM.

Every spring, the OPEN STUDIOS gives the public an opportunity to actually see where the art is made. Art enthusiasts and their families are encouraged to attend. In the studios’ relaxed atmosphere, the public will have a chance to discover that art is much more accessible than they thought. They will be able to interact with the artists and familiarize themselves with their creative process, materials and the varied range of works. Visitors may purchase artwork directly from the artists without entering the sometimes intimidating setting of commercial galleries, even though the artists are gallery-affiliated, have been exhibited internationally and are part of many collections in the United States and abroad.

In the last decades, the scarcity of affordable studio space has driven artists from SoHo and Chelsea. Yonkers, which is experiencing a Renaissance, is home to a thriving artist community. YOHO Artist Studios is the largest professional art community in the area.

The reality of investing in a vintage, restored Steinway piano

So you are looking to purchase a fine piano which is also a great investment. Let's look at what a competently restored vintage Steinway is. It is a piano that is beautiful to look at, and a dream to play. It is also a commodity which has had a history of holding it's value. Let's define value. The first definition is that the piano can provide years of playing and listening satisfaction. That is the main reason to buy a piano. The second definition of value is that the piano will not depreciate in price as quickly as many other commodities. In my experience vintage, restored Steinway pianos hold their monetary value better than any other investment in the piano world.

Another great investment in the piano world is vintage restored Mason and Hamlin pianos. For decades there has been an argument over which piano is better, Steinway or Mason and Hamlin. In my opinion this is like comparing apples and oranges. The two brands have different qualities in sound and touch. From a quality of construction standpoint the pianos are different but equally well constructed. From a pianistic point of view I would have to say"de gustibus". One thing is very clear, in my shop: Steinway pianos are easier to sell.

Another class of good investments in the piano world are the Yamaha, Kawai, and Boston pianos. These pianos are much less expensive and are valuable as good sounding, reliable work horses if a Steinway or Mason and Hamlin piano is not for you. These brands are a fine investment in the satisfaction of owning a really good instrument.

Finally, almost any brand of piano can have value as a source of satisfaction. It doesn't have to be a an expensive or famous brand. What is important is the pleasure you get out of playing or listening to the piano. For this reason it is important to get confirmation from a competent piano professional that your piano purchase will perform reliably. Good luck, and choose wisely.

Joe Hanerfeld,

Craftsman Piano Co.