Cost to repair 1922 Hamilton upright piano?

Question

Cost to repair 1922 Hamilton upright piano?

Answer 1

Close to $10 000...

Ivory Keys - banned due to the elephant trade, you 'll end up getting new plastic/wood keys. All 88 keys would be close to $1000. Probably a lot of damage with the key mechanisms. To refurbish or rebuild the action is about $6000. Replacing of strings - you'll probably want to restring the instrument is about $1000. Wood work its self is around $1500 to $2500....



good luck

Answer 2

Far more than the residual value after the work is performed. "and has a missing knob" is doable, replacing the action ... Forgeddaboutit! If you like the cabinetry, have the instrument gutted, refinish the wood and install a digital piano inside. ... All done for about $1200 including the piano, less if you can do the refinishing work (well)

Answer 3

Cost of the repair will be more than the piano is worth. However, if you like the case ... fixing the veneer (if there isn't a lot missing, loose) and refinishing the cabinet you could gut the box and install a digital piano inside. Then you end up with a reliable modern instrument that fits in with Victorian surroundings.



I've seen it done well, with quite reasonable results.

Answer 4

The current ivory on this instrument is worth far more than the cost of repair. Call a piano technician - they will refer you to one who NEED ivory (no longer available) to repair the keys on pianos that already HAVE ivory (my Steinway does). After all the valuable components of this piano are removed, use the few dollars you got for them, buy a bottle of something you like, get a sledgehammer, and reduce this instrument into pieces small enough to easily go into the trash. You might want to do this on a day when you have broken up with your girl, or lost your job - violence with a sledgehammer - and LEGAL violence, in this case - is so much more satisfying then.



You description of the piano sound like the old "Lost Dog" poster joke:



Blind in one eye, torn ear, missing front teeth, neutered, and lost one leg. Answers to the name of "Lucky". Reward offered.

Answer 5

I think the other respondents are way too pessimistic here...you did say "just make it playable". For example, you can have your cracked-missing ivories replaced with plastic...it'll look funky but it will work, and cheaper than doing them all. The problem is that we can't see the piano. In particular, I'd be asking about the condition of the pin block...if it's been doped, whether oversize pins have been installed, etc. In auto terms, replacing a pin block is equivalent to an engine or tranny rebuild...you wouldn't buy a used car requiring that amount of work. And if it won't hold a tune, it's useless.



That being said, this is probably not a cost-effective way to get "a piano"; you would be better off putting the money you would spend into a newer piano. OTOH, the old uprights, when completely rebuilt (including new strings), are generally better pianos that most recent-model consoles. The only way to know for sure is to pay a piano tech to come out and give you an estimate. But my bet is that you aren't going to get out of this project for three figures.