Old Arion Piano

[Gary Guthary]

Hi,
I just got an old Arion upright from my mother, who gave it to me under
the condition that I take care of it and, some day, refurbish it. I
know it can cost a lot more than these old pianos are worth to fix them
up right, but it's been in the family for a LONG time, and I think I owe
it to my mom to get it fixed up. Besides, I like the way it looks in my
house. Anyway, I was hoping to get some input on:
a) what stages I might be able to do the refurbishment in, and
b) Where can I get some information on the piano I have? I have scoured
the Internet, and I can't find anything on Arion pianos anywhere. Is it
a good name? Are they good instruments? Were they good instruments?
Any input anybody may have would be HUGELY appreciated.
Gary

[Max]

>a) what stages I might be able to do the refurbishment in

Please save up and have the whole restoration done at the same time.Having
work done in stages is more expensive , lacks continuity and is very
unsatisfying for both yourself and the person doing the work.

>b) Where can I get some information on the piano I have?

Arion does have a bit of history according to my Pierce so look for a
serial # in the top of the piano and post it here.

Is it
>a good name?

It won't set anyones pulse racing but structural condition will be the
main consideration.

Were they good instruments?

I'll take an educated guess and say yes.

Gary Guthary wrote in message <37C49881...@eni.net>...
Snip snip snip.

[Gary Guthary]

Max, thanks for your input. I'll get that serial number up here as soon as I
get it from the piano. All I know right now is that the patent date is 1885,
but I think the piano is from the 20's or 30's.

[Gary Guthary]

Wow, You've given me more information in these last few messages than
I've got in a lifetime of growing up with this piano!! Thanks!!! It's
always interesting to know the history behind something like this.

Getting back to the piano:
It looks like the name on the fallboard is a stencil, not a brass inlay,
but how can I tell for sure without ruining it? I'm afraid to clean it
too thoroughly, and it's very dirty, so it's hard to see. The piano
hasn't had much use, just sitting and collecting dirt at my mother's
house. And yup, in big letters on the top right of the iron frame, it
says: ARION New York. Also, the name on the fallboard says Arion New
York.

I'll have to check with my mother about when the piano came into the
family, but my first instinct says that the 1938 date sounds about
right.

Max wrote:
>
. . . . .

[chri...@gmail.com]

Is there a Patent number on the piano?

[J.B. Wood]

Do you realize you're responding to a 19 year old post? (Amazing that
Usenet news servers archive this stuff for so long.) Sincerely,


--
J. B. Wood e-mail: arl_1...@hotmail.com