Age/value of 1890's Heintzman

[halipiano]

Hello, I'm new to this forum, so please advise if my questions should be posted elsewhere!

I have a Heintzman & Co upright piano (serial number 13027 - which I've tried to look up and seems it was built in the 1890's), which my family bought about 20 years ago and is in beautiful condition (I assume it has been restored, I don't know much about it's history). I don't currently live in Canada, so my parents have been keeping it for me, but they are looking to move into a smaller home in the next year or so and won't be able to store it. I'm planning on coming back to Canada in the next two years, but I'm not sure how easy it will be to find piano storage in the meantime, if the piano is likely to be in good working condition in the future, and if it is even 'worth' all of the trouble of storing.

I don't know anything really about the technical aspects of pianos and how to judge the condition/longevity. From the outside it's beautiful, it has lovely decorative carvings and the wood is in great condition, only a couple of tiny scratches on the bottom sides probably from when it was moved. It hasn't been tuned in a few years since I'm not around very often, but even so sounds pretty good, and it has a great sound when it is tuned.

I'm not sure if it would be worth selling (or if anyone would even buy it?) and buying something more practical later on (when I return to Canada I will probably have to live in an apartment for a few years, maybe something digital/hybrid would be better). My sentimental side really wants to keep it, but practically I have no idea if that makes sense.

Does anyone have any insight into the possible value/longevity of the piano? Or advice on selling/storing a piano like this?
I would really appreciate any advice!

[anacrusis]

Unfortunately pianos greatly decline in value with age. If it's in really, really good condition, with good sound, responsive keys and all that good stuff you can possibly get more than zero dollars for it. For old pianos that are not in good condition the deal can often be "you get it for free if you can arrange transporting it away from here".

[halipiano]

Unfortunately pianos greatly decline in value with age. If it's in really, really good condition, with good sound, responsive keys and all that good stuff you can possibly get more than zero dollars for it. For old pianos that are not in good condition the deal can often be "you get it for free if you can arrange transporting it away from here".

That's pretty much what I was afraid of/expected... Such a shame that such huge and beautifully made instruments end up being "worthless". So many online for free or going to the dump. If I knew what my living situation would be in the next couple of years it would make the decision a lot easier. Or if I knew that someone else would get value from it. I have a mental image of it getting sent to the dump or used for firewood that fills me with dread.

Do you think there would be value in getting an official appraisal? My assumption is that it would be useful to have both to potentially sell (again if anyone would even pay for it), and to store (for insurance). I guess they could also tell me if it will likely be in good condition to play in the coming years as well?

[quantum]

Do you think there would be value in getting an official appraisal? My assumption is that it would be useful to have both to potentially sell (again if anyone would even pay for it), and to store (for insurance). I guess they could also tell me if it will likely be in good condition to play in the coming years as well?

If you intend to do anything with it like sell it as is, restore it, or keep it to play, having it evaluated by a piano tech would be one of the first steps.  Knowing more about its condition will make you better informed into making decisions about it. 


Any possibility of loaning it to a friend in the meanwhile, until you have a place to put it in your home.  It appears as if you really want to hang on to it.

[silverwoodpianos]

Heintzman 13027 has a build date of May 1896.

When was the instrument last tuned? And by whom? This is the person to speak with regarding condition and value.

No mention of location in Canada. There is a Canadian Technicans page on FB and a tech local to the piano area is easily found if you can't find the previous one.

If the instrument is in original condition then the financial value would be low. These old instruments have other types of value.

For appraisals I would not recommend a written one, just a verbal while you and the tech stand in front of the piano. Written is too expensive and could possibly be more than the piano is worth.

[halipiano]

Thank you both for your responses!

I've learned that the instrument was pretty much completely restored about 20 years ago. My parents were looking for a piano and my mom fell in love with it but it was in horrible condition, so they paid to have it restored (I thought they had purchased it in its current condition). I don't know the details of internally what was restored, but it sounds like it was pretty extensive.

It was last tuned quite a few years ago, my parents moved a few months before covid began, and since they don't play much it hasn't had a tuning. That's a good idea, to get a verbal ballpark for value, I may get a technician to come in and give it a tune just for maintenance, and ask about condition/value then.