Seeburg Appraisal
By Les Smith
This instrument would be of considerably more interest to a collector if it had not had any work done to it at all and was still in non-work- ing but all original condition. Once you start to make modifications to the instrument in order to get it playing at any cost, you no longer have an "original", but a "hybrid". So despite the fact that the person who donated the instrument is probably looking for an appraisal of twice this amount, I would appraise it at $2500 (American $'s), tops and that would be stretching it. Why? Well to return the piano to like-new condition would require that the piano mechanism be completely restored, including new pins and strings, hammers and dampers, a complete action rebuild, etc. On top of that, since the person who did the work on the player action 20-30 years ago obviously had no compunctions about modifying it in order to get it to work, you can be sure that it will all have to be done over again. Then, too, it will have to be refinished, and an original Seeburg bench found for it (lots of luck!!). Lastly all the missing parts are going to have to be custom-fabricated by a top-notch machinist. Total cost of un- doing the damage already done to this piano by careless and indifferent technicians and restoring it to like-new condition? $7500-$10,000 to have it done RIGHT. And that's why, as it now stands you can't appraise it for any more than $2500. Personally, speaking as someone who's been restoring these things for over 30 years, I would probably pass on this one at ANY price.
Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net |
(Message sent Mon 15 Jan 1996, 07:45:53 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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