Hello all, I am new to the forums and a new (old) piano owner. My young family is excited to have a piano in the house and so far the kids are excited to start their lessons. We'll see how long it takes before that becomes a point of contention instead.

Anyway. The piano we have is a 1962 (I think) Cable-Nelson. There is a plug coming out of the upright box but I can't see what it leads to. Someone told me it could be a dehumidifier but I want to be sure. Also, if that is what it is what are the chances it still operates today and wouldn't just be a power drain?

Thanks in advance for answers.

You may want to post this in the tech forum, and divulge your location and climate. My understanding is the oldest humidity control systems may have been uncontrolled (no "brains" to turn it off and on). Have you opened up the bottom to see what's in there?

Hi, and welcome to the Piano World Forums!

Chances are, it is a dehumidifier heater bar, as you suspect already. I have two of them under my grand piano.

As far as it being energized all the time, it will, unless it is connected to a humidistat switch... like a temperature thermostat. However, the older silver colored heater bars are low wattage and do not comsume a lot of power.

It is easy to take the foot-board off and look in the inner cavity of the piano... there is a flexible metal latch in the center at the top of the foot-board; depress the latch and the board tilts toward you. There are two wood or metal dowels on the bottom to keep it in alignment. Once you depress the latch, you can remove the board completely.

If in doubt, and the humidity in your home is not high, just don't plug in the power cord.

Hope this helps...

Rick

Thanks Rickster. This is a helpful reply. I am clearly new to piano ownership and probably never would have figured out how to get access to the box.

Thanks terminal degree for the reference to the tech forum. I'll find my way around here eventually I am sure.