This week there was a wonderful article, with pictures of local craftsmen taking old pianos--and I do mean old--not worth restoring as a playable instrument, and converting the cabinets into gorgeous pieces of furniture. The craftsmen really appreciated all the fine wood and the detail that went into some of the old pianos. They converted some of the uprights into desks, and one piano, I think it is console size, now hides a big flat screen TV. The screen is on some sort of lift, and enables one to elevate it so that it can be viewed.

The article stated that it was hard to keep up with the demand for these remodeled pianos.

So, there is life for them after their voices have been dimmed.

Gaby tu

I am placing my 1896 Kimball upright into a local antique store for perhaps the same purpose - a woodwright might convert it into a desk or something. It has beautiful carving work on the front and lots of good wood. The antique store has sold several old pianos for that purpose.

I hate to see my poor old piano die, but it is shot and the ivories have been replaced by plastic keys. Two techs have said it needs total rebuild and it is not a highly coveted piano for restoration. One of the techs was a total smart aleck who suggested I take it to the dump, which to me is obscene! Maybe someone will buy it to fix up or to convert it to something useful. I hope that old gal is around for a long time to come in some form.

In this day of our being so conscious of the environment, it is just wonderful to know that some of these old instruments do not wind up in the city dump. The conversion of these instruments into something that preserves their beauty and usefulness is the finest kind of recycling. Gaby Tu

My 100+ year old piano has recently developed soundboard issues. We're stuck with each other for now. I'm not sure what's going to happen to it long term except that the dump will not be an option. If it's not useable when I'm done with it I'll dismantle it myself piece by piece and make something else out of it. Mahogany bookshelf? Cabinet?

If someone had a large family room with a really blank wall it would be cool to "panel" it with old piano fronts. A very eclectic decor possibility.