Decision Making: Broadwood Piano 1920s

[dalpozlead]

Hi guys,

My sister just bought a house in London and the previous owner offered her (zero fees) to keep a Broadwood piano in the house. It looks like a medium size, like a wood finish Steinway Model B.

Bought in late 50s, repaired and tuned 3 years ago with a stiff sustain pedal...

Question is... is it worth to keep? (probably having to invest to repair minor issues)

super tks!

[Joe Muscara]

Is it playable? Is it tunable? I always say that pianos, cars, and houses are similar in that they almost always can be fixed up if you're willing to spend the money, and if you're keeping it for yourself, its worth only matters to you. 

 

If you're technical at all, it might be a fun project. My first acoustic piano was a 1920s Kranich & Bach. The action was really stiff when I got it, and with the help of the Reblitz book and some tools I was able to get from Schaff, I was able to make it much more playable as well as maintain it. It had its limits though, which is why I replaced it with my Kawai.

 

OTOH, if you or your sister will be having a technician do all the work, pay to have them come and look at it and tell you if there is anything seriously wrong with it. Most techs enjoy working on a good old solid piano.

[dalpozlead]

tks, it's playable and slighly out of tune, it seems like a great project and asset for the family's future. tks for the advice!

[AUSSIEKEYS]

Recently looked at a house for a possible down sizing and it had 2 uprights in there. One good looking one sitting inside and one slightly weather faded on a verandah.

 

Upon open inspection day being first in the house before others i asked if i could play the good one. Agent very happy to oblidge. I played it. Grossly out of tune and not a pleasant playing experience. She said i should pay you to play for the open day...i smiled and thought id sound like shit on this thing hee hee.

 

She said if you offered it may be available. Instantly i said to my wife in private i wouldnt want it even if free even though i was selling my yammy baby grand to downsize id not have an acoustic to play.

 

I deemed this an unenjoyable aquisition no matter how pretty it was. Normally i jump at free things which this probably would have been if we bought the house.

 

I am passed factoring restoration on an acoustic. Obviously i didnt even ask to try the weather beaten one.

 

A grand piano though would make me think twice though if it already fitted in the house. There's something more enticing about a sitting at a grand that a free one might make worthwhile a bit of struggle to get it right.

 

Its a hard call but when you sat at it and played did you ENJOY IT?

[Threadslayer]

I was certain that the coda to your story was going to be that you sat down on the old beater on the verandah and fell in love with it.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

Just now, Threadslayer said:

I was certain that the coda to your story was going to be that you sat down on the old beater on the verandah and fell in love with it.

 

Hee hee I wasnt game to try it. Either way like or loathe it i didnt want to risk either.