I know next to nothing about pianos, but I believe the one I have is an 1889 (or so) Sterling Cabinet Grand, serial number 3959. It has probably a dozen or so keys out of tune, and I had the tuner come down to tune it to no avail; the strings kept breaking while he was trying to tune them. He said to fix the piano and bring it to tune would be in the range of $2k-$3k, and I can't afford that, so now I'm just looking to get rid of it. Is this piano worth anything, or is it just...an old piano? Here's some pictures, the burl walnut woodwork is in great condition:





Thanks

I'd recommend giving it away to someone who wants to restore it. Just make sure it doesn't end up being destroyed.

Most likely, if it is not tunable and strings are breaking, it needs to be completely restrung with larger tuning pins, which is a costly and time-consuming repair. Paying $2-3K for that work is a reasonable price given the time and materials involved.

One exception to what I just said: If this piano has a "birdcage" action, there are few who are willing to work on it at any price; the "birdcage" (overdamper) action is obsolete and inferior to the modern upright action (underdamper), and only a few piano tuner/techs left know how to work on it.

If you post a picture of the piano with the panel above the keyboard removed, it should be possible to determine what kind of action is in this piano. I'm not sure where you are from, but the "birdcage" / overdamper pianos are most common in the UK. Some made it over to the USA.

If it can't be "fixed" as a usable piano..call a cabinet maker,rather than trashing it..

It would not be a birdcage action.

There might be someone who would want it, but I doubt you could get any money for it.

Is it even possible to install the works of new pianos into beautiful old cabinets like this one?

It is possible to replace almost anything in an old piano, often at a cost considerably higher than a complete new piano.

The verdict on once wonderful but now worn out old pianos, especially uprights, kinda sucks doesn't it, and also a bit sad.

Just with string & pins, then hammer set/ keyboard, and you are the better part of 10K….. and any other problems have not even been addressed yet.

Sadly, rebuilding old vintage uprights like this is not often done these days. Some name brand ones are lucky enough to be restored, but the majority of them are discarded.

All of the first growth timber and vintage hardwood veneers, unavailable today, goes to the landfill.

I think Dan Silverwood might have a place for it

Thanks for the replies; looks like I'll be looking for someone who, for whatever reason, wants it..craigslist musical instrument section here I come?

I vote for an embargo on importing pianos into the USA. These big old uprights would suddenly gain value - and maybe folks would open up a few piano factories.