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Piano, Organ, and Keyboard/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| 1936 Harmon Piano | 2/10/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: where would I find the serial number on this piano? I am trying to sell for a good price but I ... A: If it's a vertical piano, open the top lid...after you remove all the pictures...and look inside on ... | ||
| Kimball Artist Console Piano leg repair | 2/9/2012 | William Rowland |
| Q: I have a 1983-1984 Kimball piano that the wooden front legs have been unscrewed from the case. When ... A: Okay, you are going to have to dismantle the front of your piano to get to those nuts. Sorry, I am ... | ||
| Geo. P. Bent piano | 2/7/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: Model;Concord S/N 70388.What year and is it of any value? Thanks, Wm. A: Concord of Chicago, ILL. was manufactured by George P. Bent and for those numbers we are referred to ... | ||
| Howard Cincinnati-chicago upright | 2/6/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have a piano that belonged to my great grandma and now is mine it is a Cincinnati-Chicago upright. ... A: Howard was established in Cincinnati in 1895. This company was part of D.H.Baldwin, and then ... | ||
| Gubransen Pacemaker | 2/6/2012 | Thomas Britanyak |
| Q: I seemed to have broke the power switch on a Gubransen Pacemaker 1511w while attempting to move it. ... A: For parts needs, I suggest you contact the Music Instrument Technician Association (MITA) at ... | ||
| Oetzmann and Plumb's Upright | 2/3/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: A friend of mine donated a piano for a garage sale I was having and I wasn't able to sell it. It's ... A: It looks like Brazilian Rosewood or something in the species with regard to the furniture. And, the ... | ||
| Yamaha keyboard serial numbers | 2/2/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I recently purchased a used Yamaha MO6 workstation and cannot find out how to read the serial number ... A: I'm sorry I couldn't help. However, you can't ask a car mechanic about plumbing. If you read my ... | ||
| Piano Information | 2/2/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: What could you tell me about a Grinenell Brothers piano with the serial number 47495? It was given ... A: Ok... Let's call it a console! There is not other information regarding this piano at the time ... | ||
| weber new york piano | 1/30/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: Onesti I have a weber new york upright piano inside there is a number 48762. I dont know anything ... A: Weber & Co. was established in 1852 by Albert Weber in Manhattan, NY. In 1902, it became part of ... | ||
| baldwin digital piano dvp80 | 1/29/2012 | Thomas Britanyak |
| Q: How hard is it to replace internal battery in piano and where is it located. My book gives no ... A: Modern digital devices are in part composed of a CPU board which only needs to be told what it is to ... | ||
| piano | 1/28/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have a Schiller Upright Piano about a 1910 model. It is in fairly good condition with a nice old ... A: First off...you have the manufacturing date right. Regardless of the ornate character of the piano, ... | ||
| Chute & Butler | 1/25/2012 | William Rowland |
| Q: I have a Chute & Butler 49514. I have also found a technician at www.ptg.org to help determine the ... A: There is not a set charge for an appraisal among technicians. Personally I charge $25 if I don't ... | ||
| Janssen Console Age & Value | 1/25/2012 | Samuel Noel |
| Q: I've a Janssen Console SN: 110603. I am interested in the manufactured date and possible value. My ... A: Your Janssen console was manufactured in 1950. As for its value, a visual inspection is necessary to ... | ||
| Estimated age and value | 1/24/2012 | Samuel Noel |
| Q: I recently bought an old piano from a lady. She had said her aunt's mother had owned it, and thought ... A: Your Krell upright was manufactured in 1908. As for its value, it would have to be visually ... | ||
| Piano | 1/23/2012 | Joel Bjorling |
| Q: I had a question about my piano. I have a Kohler and Campbell upright piano with the serial number ... A: The Kohler-Campbell Industries was formed in 1896. They made a good quality piano. Uprights are ... | ||
| piano ed werner | 1/23/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have an old ED WERNER- Berlin piano serialnr. 7770 totally professionally restored. Allways ... A: The Werner company you mention, started in 1881 in Berlin, left no records for us...only a listing ... | ||
| piano | 1/22/2012 | Joel Bjorling |
| Q: we bought an old home and it has an old piano, we think late 1800's early 1900's Ivory keys , was ... A: What to do with this piano would depend upon its make, age, and condition, especially the condition. ... | ||
| What is my piano worth,should I have it tuned ? | 1/20/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: Ralph , I bought a house in N.Y which has a Girard piano make 1900. Everything looks original except ... A: Pianos that are left behind in houses are there for a reason...no one wants is. To repair that ... | ||
| Chickering anniversary edition | 1/20/2012 | Joel Bjorling |
| Q: I have a Chickering Anniversary Edition baby Grand piano. Where do I find the serial number and ... A: Type "Chickering Baby Grand Piano" into your search engine. From that, you should be able to get ... | ||
| Valdesta model:Classico 950/schematic/repair | 1/20/2012 | Thomas Britanyak |
| Q: I own a Valdesta Classico 950 Digital piano that I play at home a lot. I know it was a "cheap ... A: Sorry about the delay, we.ve had to deal with an ice storm that took out our power, phone and ... | ||
| My George Steck Baby Grand | 1/19/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I finally found a number embossed on the underside of the sheet music holder. It is #6206. Can you ... A: That number is probably not the serial number. If it were, the piano would be from the 1870's. Look ... | ||
| keller piano - 1910 | 1/18/2012 | Samuel Noel |
| Q: I was asked if i would be interested in taking a piano off of a relatives hands. It is a Keller. I ... A: Obviously a piano cannot be evaluated sight-unseen, however, most dealers would assign a $0 value to ... | ||
| 1921 Gulbransen Upright | 1/17/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I am considering purchasing what I believe to be a 1921 Gulbransen-Dickinson Upright piano, which is ... A: Generally speaking, there is no historical value. All of the value is placed in the piano's ability ... | ||
| 1940's Baldwin Baby Grand 4 legs | 1/15/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have a 1940's Baldwin Baby Grand Piano that is a bit different than a regular baby grand - it has ... A: Art Deco cases were not unusual and the case really did not change the workings of the piano. Made ... | ||
| Steck Piano Player | 1/14/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have a Steck 88 note Aolean Piano Player. What I would like to know is what is mean't by ... A: I'm not a player guy...but I have "people"... Themodist rolls have extra holes near both edges that ... | ||
| Starck Upright Cabinet Piano Worth | 1/13/2012 | Samuel Noel |
| Q: We were given an upright Starck cabinet piano and were wondering how much it would be worth and how ... A: Your Starck upright piano was manufactured in 1912. As for its value, have a technician visually ... | ||
| Hardman Piano | 1/11/2012 | Samuel Noel |
| Q: I own a Hardman piano (yr 1907). The piano was professionally restored in 1993 (cracked sound board. ... A: I don't know how an expert could make a determination without actually seeing the instrument. I ... | ||
| Cadillac Piano | 1/9/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have a 1900's Cadillac upright player piano including original purchas papers. Piano has been in ... A: OK...first of all I'm thinking retirement homes. Go to http://www.ptg.org. There you can plug in ... | ||
| Estey Pump Organ knee levers | 1/9/2012 | Thomas Britanyak |
| Q: I just purchased a Estey Pump Organ #271903 made between 1892-1894 if I looked it up correctly. It ... A: Pump organs had a standard that must have been mutually agreed upon among builders when it came to ... | ||
| Sohmer Piano Age/Value | 1/9/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I saw your answer about another Sohmer piano and thought I would ask about one that I am thinking of ... A: The piano was made in 1962. The 34 is the height, approximately from the floor, and the IP the ... | ||
| identifying my piano | 1/8/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I have been searching (unsuccessfully) to find out more about my upright piano's manufacturer and ... A: Well...I looked through over 12,000 manufacturers including Beale which made most of the pianos in ... | ||
| Kawai piano | 1/7/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: Your opinion on a Kawai 804F. It is in fine condition. I'm told it is 15 yrs. old. I think it is ... A: Well...Kawai happens to be one of my favorite pianos. I do a lot of studio and concert work and ... | ||
| D H Baldwin c152 | 1/7/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: i am ignorant about piano's- found this for my wife she has played for nearly 50 yrs-- it is a black ... A: These were discontinued in 1995. They were made in Korea by Samick. It's approximately 5'1". They ... | ||
| Kawai piano | 1/7/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: Your opinion on a Kawai 804F. It is in fine condition. I'm told it is 15 yrs. old. I think it is ... A: I appears the piano was made in 1990. And I think that's too old for the "millennium" system. This ... | ||
| Kimball Baby Grand action | 1/6/2012 | Thomas Britanyak |
| Q: Britanyak - I have been a piano technician for over 40 years and today encountered a Kimball Baby ... A: I have been unable to find an answer to your question. I suggest calling the Antique Piano Shop, ... | ||
| Kimball Baby Grand action | 1/6/2012 | Thomas Britanyak |
| Q: Britanyak - I have been a piano technician for over 40 years and today encountered a Kimball Baby ... A: I went to have a look at the two earlier Kimballs we have and saw nothing particularly unusual about ... | ||
| Hemenway Mfg by Henry & S. G Lindeman | 1/6/2012 | Ralph Onesti |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help. My parents have had a piano in their basement since moving to the house in ... A: For a manufacturing date I have 1897. There is no value left in this piano and I would strongly ... | ||
| Franklin Upright Piano | 1/4/2012 | Todd Lindeblad |
| Q: What year was my piano manufactured - serial number 17212? My own research has landed me at an ... A: Your piano was manufactured in 1901. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. ... | ||
| Piano serial number (s/n) | 1/3/2012 | Samuel Noel |
| Q: I recently bought a Schafer and Sons G3A piano, but cannot find the serial number. Where are the ... A: Start looking for the serial number on the cast iron plate. It may be located in front of the tuning ... | ||
| Appreciation of old classical pianists? | 1/3/2012 | Kathie Nicolet - Chicago Professional Pianist |
| Q: According to what I read, apparently the greatest classical pianists were all dead, like Horowitz, ... A: Thomas - Like you, I have a huge appreciation for all the great " dead " classical pianists. You ... | ||
Piano, Organ, and Keyboard
Answers by Expert:
Ralph Onesti
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am a Registered/tested member of the Piano Technicians Guild (RPT) with 47 years of experience in all phases and levels of the acoustic piano. I will answer any questions regarding acoustic pianos only. All questions and answers are to remain public. Please to not include sensitive material! If they are marked private, I will change them to public. My answers may be of assistance to others. If privacy is an issue, please contact me through my web site: http://www.onestipiano.com Electronic keyboards, organs, and player/reproducing piano mechanisms are outside of my expertise. Anything to do with: Construction, Service, Tuning, Climate Control Systems, Piano Disc, Purchasing, Selling, Insurance Appraisal, Rebuilding, Repairs, Legal issues, Maintenance, Environmental issues, Finish issues with acoustic pianos. My full resume can be found at: http://www.onestipiano.com
Experience
In business since 1964, Extensive Rebuilding/Repair/Service facility. A certified, tested, member of the Piano Technicians Guild, Member of the Technical Advisory Service to Attorneys. Have performed piano service on Concert Stage, Recording Studios, and in the home. Http://www.onestipiano.com. The shop's work comes from all over the world from private clients or other techncians.
Organizations
The Piano Technicians Guild, Master Piano Technicians of America, Technical Advisory Service to Attorneys. (TASA), IAPBT.
Publications
The Piano Technicians Journal
Education/Credentials
Attented Temple University, Drexel University, Philadelphia Community college all in the areas of engineering and Music. I taught a two semester course in Piano Technology and the related acoustical physics at Temple University. I have taught extensively for the Piano Technicians Guild and the Master Piano Technicians of America.
Awards and Honors
Service Award for the Rose Tree Media School District in Pennsylvania
Past/Present Clients
The list is rather extensive. I would suggest you go http://www.onestipiano.com where there is a comprehensive list of clients past and present.
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