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Hello all, I have a Baldwin upright that I purchased many years back. It was bought for my son to practice on which did not pan out. It was my idea/dream.....not his. Anywho, we have a friend that has a very small daughter(and small hands) that is probably 8 or 9 y/o and is looking to start playing. Would this piano(as far as I can tell)which was made somewhere between 1910-1920 make a good starter. Serial #17764. I don't want to sell it to the family of the daughter if it's not a good fit for her. Plus it looks great in our parlor. And would $1000 be too much of an asking price? I will attempt to put a picture in the PHOTO GALLERY forum, as I cannot figure it out here.
Old Baldwin uprights are nice pianos, but it takes a lot of adaptation to do much restoration on them. Old uprights really do not have much value, as one can buy a new piano for less than it costs to restore the old piano well. I am assuming that it is actually a Baldwin, and not one of the many labels that Baldwin controlled.
We really cannot estimate the value of your piano without assessing the condition, and that likely takes more than can be shown in photos. You really need someone knowledgeable to look at it, but the chances are $1000 is high. I suspect that if you advertised it at that price, you would not get a nibble.
but the chances are $1000 is high. I suspect that if you advertised it at that price, you would not get a nibble.
That's kinda what I figured. I did get it in the Photo Galery though http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/galleries/1833025/Baldwin.html#comments I was also wondering about all of the cast iron(?) that is behind the strings. Have not seen that before as my mom has a Wurlitzer and it didn't have that feature in there. Would that be a sounding board?
May I suggest that, before you take photoes to post with your want-ad on Craig's List or wherever, you take off virtually all the collectables you currently have on the piano. First, it would indicate you're not hiding anything, and also prospective buyers wouldn't have their attention diverted by attractive bric-a-brac.
I have always been under the impression that these were 'a dime a dozen'.
The Pierce Piano Atlas says Baldwin discontinued its large upright about 1920, and started its current 52" model (the 6000) in 1984. Baldwin did make other large uprights, but with different names (Hamilton, Howard, Ellington, Monarch, and others). In my comment above, I was referring to never having seen a Baldwin upright with the actual Baldwin name. I'm guessing there are not a ton of them out there. The 1920 serial numbers ended at about #38000. Keep in mind, these serial numbers also include grand pianos.
Last edited by Eric Gloo; 01/28/1209:52 AM.
Eric Gloo Piano Technician Certified Dampp-Chaser Installer Richfield Springs, New York
Old Baldwin uprights had a large capo bar cast into the plate, like some of the larger Steinways. However, the problem with them is that they had an action with brass rails and string loop hammer butt springs, which was unique, as far as I know. I think I would replace that with wooden flanges if I were to rebuild one. The problem is that you have to do all of them.
Both of them(his and mine) appear to have very,very similar 'guts'. His being a 1906, has a C in the cast plate near the top. Mine being a 1911, has a D in the cast plate. And they both have the "GRAND PRIX PARIS" in the casting. And obviously his is abit more ornate. I take it, that the letter difference is a revision within that model line? Correct me if I am wrong.....just spit-ballin here.