D. L. Bullock mentioned a Knabe grand piano that was pretty messed up.

I visited the piano dealers in Rochester NY a few years ago . One
dealer (who shall remain nameless) had an old Steinway Duo-art.
I looked at the piano; it was complete but needed everything:
a pneumatic rebuild, new hammers and strings, just for starters.
There was clear plastic tubing draped everywhere, and had some ugly
green corrosion where the clear tubing was installed.  It would play,
but weakly.

The top ten or so keys appeared to be jammed.  Someone in the past
had replaced the hammers, which had became unglued and rotated sideways
on the shanks.  This condition was present throughout the piano, so
much that the hammers pointed every which way except at the strings !

I inquired about the price, thinking that it would make a nice winter
project, and was told that I could have this "restored piece of
history" for $12.000.00.  I told the salesman that if that unit was
worth 12 grand, I would show him an upright that was worth half a
million!

Someday I will own a reproducer! <chuckle>  Back to arranging.

Andy Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls