1928 Knabe Ampico A

[Larry Fisher RPT]

6 foot 3 inch, player in working condition with 20 rolls.

 

I’ve been asked to provide a ballpark value of this piano.  It’s currently 5 hours from here so I’m not going to go there to look at it.  According to the caller, it’s been totally gone through in 1975  .....  refinished, rebuilt player, new strings, keytops, etc.  Let’s just say that’s what he’s got.  The caller’s Mom passed and the house has to emptied out, the piano needs to be liquidated.  The piano has been in the family since it was new.

 

I searched PianoMart, PianoBuyer, PianoWorld, and I have yet to cruise the MMD site.  Frankly, I don’t find any value in any of those sources since they don’t really represent the actual sate price, just the asking price.

 

I’m aware of the regional variances in the market for such things.

 

I’m not going to charge him anything for this, just an email stating what I think I ought to ask for it when it’s time to list and sell it.

 

Any takers??  $14K??

 

Lar

 

 

 

 

[Terry Farrell]

Based on limited information provided, $5K

Terry Farrell

[John Rhodes]

Lar, check with my brother (Robbie) on the MMD.  He knows the serious collectors who will have a ballpark idea of worth.  They could contact the owner directly.

If the piano is capable of playing rolls now (40 years after the rebuild), the rebuild was a competent job.  A 6'-4" Knabe Ampico-A, condition as described is a valuable instrument.

John

[Joseph Garrett]

Lar,

(missed your smiling face at the chapter meeting last night.<G>)

Now to the task at hand. What would it cost to do ALL of the alleged work today? Take that number and subtract 20%. That should get you close for a "no-charge" service call sort of thing. Or..????? some other formulae? Whatever. Truth is no one wants those suckers anymore. There is a similar one left from John Cooke's shop, only all brand new work at the time of his passing. As far as I know Fran has not been able to sell it. (at any price!)

Best,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Fisher RPT
Sent: Oct 27, 2015 6:21 AM
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [pianotech] 1928 Knabe Ampico A

6 foot 3 inch, player in working condition with 20 rolls.

 

I’ve been asked to provide a ballpark value of this piano.  It’s currently 5 hours from here so I’m not going to go there to look at it.  According to the caller, it’s been totally gone through in 1975  .....  refinished, rebuilt player, new strings, keytops, etc.  Let’s just say that’s what he’s got.  The caller’s Mom passed and the house has to emptied out, the piano needs to be liquidated.  The piano has been in the family since it was new.

 

I searched PianoMart, PianoBuyer, PianoWorld, and I have yet to cruise the MMD site.  Frankly, I don’t find any value in any of those sources since they don’t really represent the actual sate price, just the asking price.

 

I’m aware of the regional variances in the market for such things.

 

I’m not going to charge him anything for this, just an email stating what I think I ought to ask for it when it’s time to list and sell it.

 

Any takers??  $14K??

 

Lar

 

 

 

 

Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com

[Arthur]

I'd say under 5k.  Very soft market. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 27, 2015, at 9:21 AM, Larry Fisher RPT <larry_...@pdxtuner.com> wrote:

[Joseph Garrett]

Based on what?

Joe

[Regi Hedahl]

Larry,

Here's a similar piano (that's a more marketable size) that's not too far from me for $1500 that is having troubles selling. IMO, the refurbishing done in the 70's adds little to any to the value.

https://houston.craigslist.org/atq/5270478876.html

Regi Hedahl

[Ron Nossaman]

On 10/28/2015 9:47 AM, Regi Hedahl wrote:
> Larry,
>
> Here's a similar piano (that's a more marketable size) that's not too
> far from me for $1500 that is having troubles selling. IMO, the
> refurbishing done in the 70's adds little to any to the value.

My experience with 70s refurbishing of players is that it lowers the
price by at least 5K.
Ron N

[Larry Fisher RPT]

Alright, Regi and Ronnie, spew.  Why do you say these things? 

BTW, seller has settled on asking $5K.  A nice sized piano at 6' 4".  Some respondents suggested removing the player to increase it's value.  I shuddered at the thought.  I never have liked that idea since the inception of this list ... uh ... 20 years ago.

[AMari...@aol.com]

OMG!! please don't strip out the player!!  That is the best part!!

 

IMHO There is nothing like the sound and expression of an Ampico or Duo-Art in a nicely restored piano.

[Ron Nossaman]

On 10/29/2015 10:14 AM, Larry Fisher RPT wrote:
> Alright, Regi and Ronnie, spew. Why do you say these things?

The name is Ron, Larry. I keep it short in the hope that people can get
it right.

I say that because I lived it and through a ten year span, cleaned up
after it when players were the latest designer item. Being called to
service "rebuilt" players that were very superficially and incompetently
done by both hobbyists and "professionals", and finding absolute junk
work in totally unrestored and unplayable old beaters. This after they
declined my rebuild estimate that would have done a first rate player
rebuild and a serviceable rebuild on the piano. That's bridge work,
strings, hammers, butts, flanges, dampers, key bushings and pins, key
frame refelting, hammer rest, sticker work and whatever rebushing and
repinning of action parts was necessary to make the thing reliable for
another 30+ years under the pounding the player would give it. But it
was just going in the basement with the pool table and wet bar, and they
just wanted a cheap toy to spill drinks on. That's why. And I am quite
capable of doing a first rate player rebuild, which very few techs who
claim such can actually deliver. So the claim that the player "works" in
that Knabe is highly suspect at best, and the expectation that it has
been competently rebuilt at any time in it's existence is theoretically
possible but vanishingly small.

I know what I'm talking about, and I know what I'm doing. That's why.
Ron N

[Ron Nossaman]

On 10/29/2015 10:35 AM, AMarino711 via pianotech wrote:
> OMG!! please don't strip out the player!! That is the best part!!
> IMHO There is nothing like the sound and expression of an Ampico or
> Duo-Art in a nicely restored piano.

They're wonderful things. The best and last of the age of the mechanical
marvel. Vacuum system, mechanical engineering in practice, without
titanium. The vast majority, however, have not been restored. Only
patched up and butchered. It's like looking at a stuffed deer head on
the wall when you've met a live one face to face in the woods.
Ron N

[David Boyce]

It's a sad time just now for these marvels. Technological wonders
sitting somewhere along a continuum that includes Charles Babbages
Difference Engines and the Jaquard Loom.

There are not many grands in the UK, but plenty of upright player pianos
still around, and of course because of the narrow window of manufacture,
all of an age where they need complete restoration as pianos as well as
players. And nobody wants them because of their size, and the expense
of restoration. So they moulder. Eventually many will be destroyed, and
perhaps at some point some people will realise what is being lost, and
the few remaning instruments will become extremely valuable.

Best regards,

David Boyce.