What can I do with an old upright piano?

Are old upright pianos worth anything?

Antique pianos are pianos that're at least a hundred years old, and, like antique books, they're not worth a lot of money just because of their age. In actuality, these old instruments may be worth very little at all, depending on their brand and condition.

What can I do with an old piano?

Who will buy an old piano?

What can be salvaged from a piano?

How I Repurposed an Old Piano

Are used pianos worth anything?

Because piano dealers need to protect the sale, most pianos immediately lose their value after being purchased. The drop in value is substantial, often ranging between 670 – 75% within just 2 – 3 years of the initial purchase.

Is there a market for antique pianos?

Antique pianos and organs can be valued anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It is important that sellers realize the real value difference between a restored instrument and an unrestored instrument.

Can you sell a piano with ivory keys?

Buying and selling ivory is illegal.

This applies to all ivory items — sculptures, embellishments, keytops, and even entire pianos with ivory keys.

How much do pianos depreciate?

Pianos typically depreciate to 78% of their value in the first year alone. After this, you can see it slowly continues to decline for 20 years, reaching its final number of 40% of its original value. What is this? As you can see, after the first couple of years, pianos will depreciate by about 5% per year.

Is it worth restoring an old piano?

That said, the life of a piano is relative to its use, but adding 50-70 years of playability and beauty is a worthwhile investment to keep a valuable, handmade piano alive. Additionally, a new piano drops in value like a brand new car would. Restored pianos hold their value longer than brand new pianos.

How much does an upright piano weigh?

Upright piano – 300 to 500 pounds. Baby grand piano – 500 to 650 pounds. Grand piano – 700 to 1,200 pounds.

How do I sell my old antique piano?

If your desire is to become an educated seller and get the most value you can from your instrument, then you might consider alternative methods such as consignment placement in upscale antique stores or boutiques, consignment with a piano dealer, or advertising your instrument on more specialized antiques-related ...

Is piano ivory worth anything?

If they have a big enough collection of old ivories, they will have a greater chance of matching. Before laws tightened, a set of ivory keys may have been worth thousands of dollars. If you find anyone selling or trading ivory today, you should use caution as laws are complex.

How can I tell if my piano has ivory keys?

Look for an ultraviolet torch. Hold it above the piano keys. If you notice the keys reflect either bright white or violet-blue colours, the keys are made of ivory. Artificial material like resins or plastics will show a completely different reaction.

When did they stop putting ivory keys on pianos?

In 1990, a global treaty was signed, banning trade in all kinds of rhino or elephant ivory. Pianos with ivory keys are no longer manufactured, but many older pianos with ivory keys still exist and are in use.

How do I know if my piano is worth anything?

We suggest setting your initial asking price about 10–15% higher than the FMV, and accept any offer within 15–20% of the FMV. Make the buyer of your piano feel as if they have "won" while you still get Fair Market Value for your instrument.

How much does an old upright piano weigh?

A classic upright piano typically weighs between 500 and 800 pounds. It usually takes at least four people to move an upright piano.

What kind of metal is in an old upright piano?

And sorry, even though it's often a nice shiny gold color, the plate is not made of gold! Or even brass, bronze or copper. Other than a few rare, experimental exceptions, all piano plates are made out of cast iron. And that's why pianos are so heavy.

Is there gold in old pianos?

April 30, 2019. Last week a rare 1916 baseball card found inside an old piano, and featuring Babe Ruth, sold at auction for USD 130,000. And a couple of years ago, a hoard of 913 gold coins was discovered in a piano in Shropshire England. This was valued at around GBP 500,000 (USD 650,000).

Is there metal in a piano?

The metal frame of a piano, often called the plate or harp, anchors both ends of the strings, withstanding a tension of 20 tons or more. The first completely metal frames were patented in the mid-1820s, and they are now generally cast in iron.