I have an old piano that I am trying to find out about.?!
Question: The maker says Wissner New York Cabinet Grand. and on on the inside it says Wissner 8146. It is an upright piano. i want to know about the value if any and some history.....thanks!!!
Answers: The maker says Wissner New York Cabinet Grand. and on on the inside it says Wissner 8146. It is an upright piano. i want to know about the value if any and some history.....thanks!!!
That piano was likely built in Brooklyn, New York around 1891. The last Wissner was built in 1941. Sometime during that period the company was controlled by Jannsen, a piano maker that made fairly decent mid-quality range instruments. They exist today as the Charles Walter piano company -- one of the few pianos still made in the U.S.
A word about the above poster's website -- "The Bluebook of Pianos" is one of the least reliable sources for information on older pianos -- and any prices they publish are spurious and historically inaccurate (They are a dealer that specializes in older pianos -- and they tend to inflate the prices a bit) -- at least that has been my experience with them. The blurbs he gives on the various brands are generally taken form the manufacturers literature.
As to the value of the instrument -- this is always problematic, since a value can't really be deternined without a hands-on inspection. Things such as the integrity fo the sound board, pinblock, tuning stablity, condition of the action parts, how much felt is left on the hammers, condition of the dampers,
all affect the value,since they translate into a cost of getting the instrument into "music making" condition. Generally, old uprights do not bring a gret deal of value to the table unless we're speaking of the premium brands, like Mason and Hamlin, Steinway, Bluethner and the like. It is usually not financially intelligent to refurbish such a piano, as it will cost more to do so than what the piano would ever be worth.
Even in tip-top condition, such a piano is not likely to bring more than $1000 to the table.
Hope this helps a little.
http://www.pianoemporium.com/antique-pia...
the above website will tell you the value of your piano for a $12 fee...
"Mr. Otto Wissner a thoroughly skilled piano-maker whose ambition to excel has never relaxed. The tone quality of the Wissner pianos and player-pianos is of refined and satisfying character. The Wissner piano is used in a number of prominent music schools and colleges and always with most satisfactory results." - The blue book of pianos.