AboutSamuel Noel Expertise I am a piano technician formerly with Steinway and Sons and now the staff technician at City College of New York. I am also self-employed in New York. I apprenticed (Manhattan School of Music)in 1982 and was factory (Steinway) trained in 1983. I have experience tuning, repairing, reconditioning, and appraisals. I am not an expert in player mechanisms, refinishing, electronic keyboards, nor midi. I love the work of making an instrument sound concert quality. Please note that appraising an instrument involves a visual inspection.
Experience I successfully apprenticed at the Manhattan School of Music under Alan Buchman in 1982 (also received B.A. in music from same school) and employed by Steinway and Sons in 1983 as a tuner-technician. I also served as service manager for Steinway. Presently, I am the staff technician at City College of New York, CUNY and I handle warranty issues and tunings for Suzuki Pianos.
Expert: Samuel Noel Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: Krakauer July 3, 1900
Question I have an upright piano with a patent date of July 3, 1900, can you tell me the value of this piece or any information? It was given to me by an old friend who got it from an old family friend. Thank you for your time.
Answer Hi Kristen,
The patent date is not the date of manufacture. The actual date can be determined by the serial number, a five or six digit number usually on the cast iron plate above the strings. Unfortunately, I do not have enough information to appraise the instrument. A technician must visually inspect the piano and assess the condition of the following:
Once the above is known, a value can be assigned. You can get a referral from the Piano Technicians Guild (www.ptg.org). Depending on the above criteria and the actual age, the price range could be between $0 and $2000.
