Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/6/2006

Question
Hello, I work for a company that performs appraisals for items lost due to fire, flood, etc.. We go onto the interent and try to find replacement values for items (for example ("antique trumpet king" with an insured value of $995). Any suggestions on where I could find a reputable dealer that might carry a number of older instruments for sale?

Thanks - Rich Nichols

Answer
Well a couple of places come to mind http://horncollector.com/ http://horncollector.com/, http://www.rugs-n-relics.com/ but, I don't think any one place is going to have anything near the quantity that would would take to use their stock as references to establish an accurate value.  Brass instruments go back over 150 years, and woodwinds go even further.  Some instruments would have value because of their age, some because of their rarity, and some because of their playability.  Then there is the issues of condition, different models, different finishes, etc.

In other words, getting an accurate assessment is a lot more involved than simply finding something on the internet that may resemble it.