I just got an upright Ludden & Bates piano and I am trying to find out more info. I think it's from the turn of the century but I can't seem to locate any info anywhere.

HELP ! !

Ludden & Bates was a dealer's name. They never built pianos. Some were built by a company named Mathushek, some by Story & Clark, OEM, with the dealer's name on them. If the piano was built by Mathushek, it might be worth restoring to a rebuilder who likes them and just wants a pet project to play with. If not, no. The dealership operated for about 10 years, in Savannah, Georgia, between 1885 and 1895. Here is the shortest way I know to help you:

1. Yes, it's at least over 100 years old.
2. No, it has no antique value.
3. No, it isn't worth restoring.
4. Yes, a rebuilder might give you 100 bucks for it if it is a Mathushek, but I wouldn't count on it.
5. Yes, it would have to be totally restored.
6. Yes, I know they told you it just needed tuning. They are wrong.
7. After you spent the 6-10K it would cost you to have it restored, it might be worth 1K or so.
8. No, I don't recommend you spend any money on it.
9. Currently, it has a negative value, because it costs money to have it hauled to the dump where it belongs.
10. I'm not trying to be a smart aleck, it's just that we have to tell people this all the time, and I'm trying to come up with a quick way of doing it. We don't enjoy having to tell you this any more than you want to hear it.

What you have is landfill. If you need a piano, see if a dealer will just haul it to the dump free for you when he delivers a real one.

As with any item, condition and supply and demand will give you a proper value of your piano. Many who make a broad statement trashing a brand in general without seeing it have ulterior motives (maybe buy the pianos they are selling?). Come on, are you going to take your working car to the dump because a car salesman tells you to do so? This previous poster may have invariably increased the value of Ludden & Bates pianos if many have followed the advice. Now, your economics 101 answer: Do a search on the internet for pianos like yours on sites like Craigslist. Search several sites, finding the high and low range of similar pianos. Get about 30 prices from high to low regarding what the pianos have sold for in the last 6 months making sure that the condition is the same as yours. Add up all 30 prices, divide by 30, and there is your value! Basic economics; your piano is worth what someone is willing to pay or it!

Hi GeorgiaPeach!

Welcome to the Piano World Forums!

You give good advice, even though the thread you responded to is almost 10 years old.

By-the-way, I'm from Georgia too... west central Georgia.

Stick around... there will be lots of current threads that may spur your interest.

Best regards,

Rick

Haha thanks, did not even notice the date!

Thanks Rick!