What a roller coaster ride this is (buying a piano). Rushed out today to see a Bluthner (1901), asking price $10,000. Someone saw the piano before me, and made an offer this evening for $1000 under the asking price. As owner's daughter is selling the house too, she was very tempted. She just called me and said I could take 30 mins to make a decision, but I said I could not make an offer without having the piano seen by my technician. There was a substantial amount of work done on the piano in 2000, but the daughter was not sure what exactly, and I am in no way qualified to determine whether the work was quality work (and I don't know the shop where it was done). So, they are going to accept the offer.
I feel like this might have been the one that got away...there aren't lots of pianos available in Montreal, and Bluthners don't grow on trees.

I know this may feel like little consolation, but you did the right thing. It would have been a HUGE risk to buy such an old piano without having your tech take a good look at it.

Go Habs Go

Sounds like a rather dubious sales technique to me. Even if it wasn't you still made the right decision.

Dan

You absolutely did the right thing ChristineG! You will find another and likely better deal on a better piano.

Thanks for the encouraging feedback. I also just spoke with my technician, and when I gave him the details, he assured me that it was just as well to give this one a pass.

So it was simply not meant to be, this time.

(Same for the Habs and the playoffs I guess ;-))

If it had a Blüthner patent action and you cannot find someone to deal with it, you are undoubtedly better off.

Most of a Blüthner did grow on trees! Just like most other pianos.

you could have bought a real lemon.. then you'd feel really bad.

You made the right decision. Thankfully, there are more pianos out there.