Because of widespread availability and declining condition, old upright pianos don’t usually sell for much. Pianos aren’t valued like antiques-meaning they aren’t worth more just because they are old, quite the opposite. Without restoration or rebuilding, a piano this old is generally considered in fair to poor condition, based on environmental and maintenance factors.
External cosmetic condition is a small part of a piano’s value and doesn’t mean a piano is in overall good condition. While the hammers may still strike the strings, there are thousands of mechanical parts-many wooden-that likely need restoration. This is one of the major factors affecting value. Regarding condition, it is important to understand that a piano’s condition declines as parts wear and deteriorate over time. This is why tall uprights have such a loud and projecting sound, especially in the bass register. Pianos built before 1930 are usually over 50” tall and called “upright grand” or “cabinet grand” because their strings and soundboard are comparable in size to that of a baby grand. This is because they were produced in large quantities in the early 20th century. Old upright pianos like this one are very common on the used piano market and have been for years. This piano was built in 1911 based on the serial provided.
