Expert: Todd Lindeblad - 1/17/2010

Question
A lady donated a Wm. Knabe & Co. grand to my church this week and had it delivered. The serial number is 18360. There's a photo of one on Wikipedia that looks identical and the photo caption says its a photo of an 1884 model.

The keys have been resurfaced at some point and aren't the original ivory. They look nice. The legs are hand-carved. The cabinet is in decent shape, but there are a few keys that don't play. It does have all the other original parts, including the pedals, etc. I'll have a piano tuner look at it; not sure how much the church can afford to "restore it".

I need to give the donor a letter acknowledging her donation for our taxes, and I'm wondering what the value of the piano is. I'd like to know what year this serial number was produced, and what the value is.

The donor told me she bought it in about 1965 or 1966 from a piano tuner at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and that he had purchased four of these "parlor pianos" and this was the one he had kept for himself. He was dying of cancer, and sold it to this lady, and she's had it ever since. She has no one to give it to, so she donated it to the church.

I hope this info is helpful. I'd appreciate any additional info you can give me.

Thanks,
Mark Taylor
(979) 229-6785

Answer
Hi,

Thank you for using allexperts.

Your piano was manufactured in 1877.  In our current economic and musical climate, we estimate the value of your piano to be at around $1,000.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Lindeblad Piano
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