Welte-Mignon Baby Grand: Information Wanted
By szfishr@boris.ucdavis.edu, forwarded by Terry Smythe
Forwarded Message:
From: szfishr@boris.ucdavis.edu To: ALL Orig: MBNET
Subj: Welte-Mignon Baby Grand Area: 0-sic.makers.piano Date: 02/04/96
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I'm looking for some information and advice concerning my Welte-Mignon piano.
It's a 5'11" baby grand, pre-1920 by its design (square, tapered legs with ornate carving), which had a player installed when it was purchased by my family in 1954. The rubber pneumatic tubing was brittle, cracked and broken, and the leather bellow were rotted out. On the advice of a local technician, the mechanism was completely removed (what a shame...).
I can't find a builder's plate or serial#--but our insurance appraiser found something a couple of years ago. I can look it up if it can provide any useful information. A local technician couldn't provide any historic information on the piano... he said that the factory records had been lost in a fire many years ago.
I took lessons and played the Welte until about 1970, and it's remained in my family through several moves. The action has always been heavy (a legacy of the player?). My 10-year-old daughter has been taking lessons for about three years, and is now at the point where the condition of the piano is effecting her technique. I must now decide whether to invest in refurbishment or sell the piano and purchase a good-quality replacement.
The piano was appraised at $5,000 10 years ago, with recommended repairs estimated at $5,000. Estimated value with the recommended repairs was $15,000.
My questions:
1. Can anyone direct me to a source of information about Welte pianos? I've read Larry Fine's "The Piano Book," but haven't yet attempted to contact any of the player piano information sources.
2. Sentimental value aside, can anyone offer any general advice on the refurbishing vs. new/used purchase decision?
3. If I should decide to sell, what selling methods have you found most effective?
Thanks for your help, and I'll be happy to provide additional information if you need it.
Best wishes... |
(Message sent Wed 7 Feb 1996, 17:41:56 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.) |
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