1911 Steinway Model OR

[kawagamadog]

Hi. I'm looking at buying a 1911 Steinway Model OR. This is the Model O that had the 'reproducing' (player) function added by the aoelian company. As with most of these models, the player guts were removed and so now it's simply a 'self played' piano. It is 6'5" in length - the additional length was added to accomodate the player mechanics. It was rebuilt in 1998 - new pin block, new action ( renner)  - the sound board is original but appears to be in fine condition. My question is this - does anyone know if the performance/sound/value of these pianos is affected by the build around the player function - for instance the hammer levers are longer because they had to stretch the extra 7" - this gives the keys a slightly heavier feel ( almost imperceptable). That's all I've noticed but wonder whether there's anything else I should be concerned about. Thanks.

[arensky]

Buy it before someone else does.

I used to play a Steinway ex-player (don't recall the model but it was from the 20's) in a voice studio. I loved that piano. I don't think there's anything you need to be concerned about, but I'm not a piano tech; maybe one of them can tell you if there's anything you need to be concerned about.

"New-Old" Steinway with a Renner action.... drool drool drool. want want want.

I reiterate my initial recation to this post. I'll bet this piano isn't on the market long. BTW how much is the seller asking? Don't worry about me, I already have a 1900 "A", some day it will have a Renner action.

[iumonito]

I realize this was more than three years ago.  I wonder if someone indeed snatched it, or if it is still available.

If it is and you are still interested, and since the first reply you got is very strong going one way, I feel the need to provide some balance, as I strongly disagree, based on the limited information I have.

If you like the piano and the price is right for you, by all means.  My guess is that you are being asked for an amount near $30-35k for this instrument.  Anything higher than that seems to me unreasonable.

With those same $30-$35, you are very likely to find one of the following (in my opinion better pianos, although of course it is a generalization), in some cases with money to spare:

2 used Kawais RX-7
1 brand new Kawai RX 7
1 new Irmler F22 (which is about the size of an Steinway C)
1 new Estonia 190
1 new August Forster 215
1 used Grotrian around 7'4"
1 new Yamaha C7
1 new Baldwin SF10
1 rebuilt Bechstein model C


Who knows what else?

Arensky, did I mishandle the time machine levers again?

[arensky]

I realize this was more than three years ago.  I wonder if someone indeed snatched it, or if it is still available.

If it is and you are still interested, and since the first reply you got is very strong going one way, I feel the need to provide some balance, as I strongly disagree, based on the limited information I have.

If you like the piano and the price is right for you, by all means.  My guess is that you are being asked for an amount near $30-35k for this instrument.  Anything higher than that seems to me unreasonable.

With those same $30-$35, you are very likely to find one of the following (in my opinion better pianos, although of course it is a generalization), in some cases with money to spare:

2 used Kawais RX-7
1 brand new Kawai RX 7
1 new Irmler F22 (which is about the size of an Steinway C)
1 new Estonia 190
1 new August Forster 215
1 used Grotrian around 7'4"
1 new Yamaha C7
1 new Baldwin SF10
1 rebuilt Bechstein model C


Who knows what else?

Arensky, did I mishandle the time machine levers again?

What the hell!!?? It is three years old. Maybe I mishandled them.

Anyway, out of your alternative list, only the Grotrian and Bechstein appeal as an alternative. Anyway, perhaps we should let this fade away.... 

[pianolist]

As it sinks gently into the sunset, perhaps I could point out that it cannot have been a 1911 OR. It must either be 1914 or later, or else an OP (meaning 'player' rather than 'reproducing'). The Duo-Art was introduced to the world on Monday 2nd March 1914, and Steinway grands with the Duo-Art mechanism were not around until later that year. My friend, Denis, has the earliest which we know to have survived as a Duo-Art, no. 168475, from September 1914.