Gerhard Heintzman piano value and age

[kirb789]

I have a Gerhard Heintzman Cabinet Grand with Serial #10808.  Anyone know the approximate age and value or a site I may check.  Thank you in advance for your reply.

[keys60]

My piano atlas only lists Heintzman, founded and owned by Theodore Heintzman, no Gerhard mentioned. If the serial no. is for Heintzmans in general, it would be btw 1894 and 1895.

Sorry I'm not that familiar with Canadian brands and it would be impossible to appraise based on a photo anyway. It would have to be thoroughly checked out and appraised by a qualified piano technician. I do know it is likely to be a well designed and solid instrument.

If your lucky, Dan Silverwood will see this and post comment.

[silverwoodpianos]

Thanks Curtis, the OP is in luck as I am around this week…..

Gerhard Heintzman, born in Hanover 1845, was the nephew of Theodore and originally a cabinet maker that crossed over to making pianos. 

In 1877 he started building pianos on his own. So unique was his training that he built the first dozen pianos entirely by himself as he had apprenticed in Berlin previous to immigrating for all aspects of piano making. Several important patents were granted the Gerhard during the years 1882-1900.

By the time of his death in 1926, close to 40,000 instruments had been produced; Heintzman & Co purchased the assets and ran the name until 1928.

For the instrument in the small photo, I would think this is the model with the patented pulsating bridge in the treble. It is also equipped with a unique horizontal sliding fallboard in which the front flips up and back as the fallboard is opened.

This piano is very wide left to right; 65 inches instead of the more usual 58-59. This is because the string scale is pitched wide so as to accommodate the long speaking length. The bass strings speaking length in this instrument are the same length as a 5’6” baby grand.

Serial number 10808 would be the fall of 1903.

The instrument looks to be re-finished at some point previous to the photo. I would urge the owner to have the instrument inspected by a local technician for present mechanical condition, any interior upgrades, and then local market values.