Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum 1874 Steinway B WORTH RESTORING??

Hello- I am new here and am hoping someone can give me a little advice. I have been looking for a Steinway for a few months now. I have already purchase a 1928 M but now I have also found a 1874 B and this is the one I am considering purchasing now. To me the price is extremely low at $4,000. I am willing to put money into this for a complete restore and rebuild but only if it's going to be a good financial decision.

So if I do get this can I easily get my money out of it after it's complete? I know there is a lot of variables in this but I would only be using a very good rebuilder and am guessing the cost would be about $20k.

My main question is, were the early Steinway's still great instruments? Or am I better staying with my 1928 M and rebuilding that at some point?

Thanks for any advice.

Sean

Greetings, Sean,

There was a little discussion about that here just recently that may be a reference for you,
https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubb...at%20this%20old%20piano.html#Post2183353

Best wishes-

There's a lot of potential gremlins in an instrument of that age. I would certainly do my homework as to the feasibility of doing a restoration... or really in this situation more like substantial rebuilding. Certainly a carved case that many of them had would be very appealing. If money were no object I would love an older art case with modern customized guts to it.

Depending on the condition doing anything to improve its situation may improve its overall worth but not considerably so.

Question is and has always been, how old do you go..is the 1870s too far back?
I'd be leery about any piano before 1890, weren't their a number of significant changes in piano design in the 1870s?

lets let the pros step up to the plate and answer this..
the "B" is a nice size..

This might be a good one for Rich Galassini to weigh in on.

My guess is that your guess of $20k is too low.

A B this old would be 85 notes. This reduces market value by approximately $10K. A piano this age is 99.9% certain to need a full rebuild. The condition of key-set, action frame, and case parts are probably the biggest rebuild pricing variables.

$30K minimum is a more realistic ballpark figure for a total rebuild. You don't want to hire a rebuild by price alone if you want it to play and last like a new piano. Be sure to audition prospective rebuilders work as well, so you can know what you are getting. This also lets the rebuilder learn about your touch and tone preferences so they can shape the project to match.