Hi,  This is my first post.  I am new to this list.  I discovered
it recently while trying to find out info about the piano being sold
by my church.  I am tentatively committed to buying it.  Would like
advice as to whether it's a good or bad deal.

It is an old Steinway grand that used to be a reproducer.  The guts
have been "lost" and the only thing remaining is the hinged panel that
opens to reveal the abandoned control levers.  It is in alligatored
mahogany finish, but inside the lid seems like a decent finish and
condition.  It plays well, but is slightly out of tune.  The price
considered is $5000.

I just pawed all over the thing the other night looking for identifying
markings, as I don't even know what model it is.  These are some of the
numbers I found.  Cast into the harp are the numbers:  12/31.0 , 5320
Stenciled on harp toward the action are the numbers: B4903 , 224170 .

I climbed under it and found some kind of signature in cursive writing
on the bottom of the soundboard that was something like Pufler or
Pirfler.  I don't know if that was the builder or the inspector or ??

Anyone know what model this is and when it was built?  Can an original
reproducing action be readily found for it?  How much for a typical
complete reproducer action?  Anyone have one?

This is the beginning of my adventure with this piano.  I always
dreamed of owning a reproducing grand.  How close or far away might
I be from this dream?  Or is it a nightmare :)

Ray Cardogno

 [ Welcome to MMD, Ray.  Your first decision is "Is the piano worth
 [ $5000 as is, without the player?"  You should have an expert piano
 [ tech evaluate the piano for you and advise you of the cost of
 [ repairs.  Then, you really should see what an equivalent piano would
 [ cost, with or without the player mechanism.  The reason behind these
 [ words of caution is that you are very likely to invest much more
 [ re-fitting a player than if you purchased a complete and working
 [ player grand Steinway. ... Now I hope that our player techs and
 [ dealers will tell you more!  ;)  -- Robbie