This Lester spinet piano (made in Philadelphia, USA) is a “Betsy Ross” model. … Given Betsy Ross was born in Philadelphia, evidently the piano manufacturer wanted to honor her creation of our first flag by naming one of their pianos after her!
Is a Lester piano a good brand?
The Lester Piano Company, an American standard, was established in 1888 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These were well built affordable pianos and have many good qualities. … These pianos are consistent and usually worthy of antique piano restoration.
What is the value of a Lester Betsy Ross spinet piano?
Even in its heyday, Lester pianos were a less expensive option for an in-home piano. For this reason, their unrestored value ranges between $500-1,000. Once restored, some of the more stylized and older Lester pianos can reach up to $20,000.
How much does a spinet piano cost?
Under $1,500.00: For this price you can, with luck, find a reconditioned spinet or console from a dealer. The dealer is likely to have taken the piano in on trade. A piano like this will be reconditioned.
Are Lester pianos still made?
Kitt, Lawrence & Co., Regent, Schilling, Schubert. The Lester Piano Co. finally went out of business in 1960. Lester pianos are no longer in production.
Is Baldwin piano still in business?
The Baldwin Piano Company is an American piano brand. It was once the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments and known by the slogan, “America’s Favorite Piano”. It ceased most domestic production in December 2008, moving its total production to China.
How much does tuning a piano cost?
The average price to tune a piano ranges from $65 to $225, and the cost can increase by several hundred dollars if the piano requires multiple tuning sessions or repairs. Piano tuning is a skill that only experienced professionals should do.
Can a piano be tuned after 20 years?
A new piano, or a piano 10, 15 or 20 years old that has never been serviced needs tuning three or four times before stabilizing. The only exception is when a new piano has been sitting on the showroom floor for several months and has gone through several in-house, or showroom tunings before purchased.
Are old pianos worth anything?
Like antique books, antique pianos are not worth a lot of money just because they are old. In actuality these old instruments may be worth very little at all. Most antique, upright pianos are worth $500 or less in very good condition.
How can you tell how old a piano is?
Many pianos will have a 4, 5 or 6 digit serial number to identify the age of the piano. Using this number, along with the manufacturer, the age of the piano can sometimes be determined.
Are spinet pianos bad?
A spinet pianos is a style of upright that has a drop-down action. The small soundboards, short strings and compromised action design make spinets terrible pianos for any player. … Regardless of the overall condition, spinet pianos should never be selected for beginning students.
Do they still make spinet pianos?
Many spinet pianos still exist today, left over from their period of manufacture. The defining characteristic of the spinet was its drop action (sometimes called indirect blow action).
Is a spinet piano good for beginners?
Spinet pianos are cheap, small, they look like other pianos and the thought is that with just a little work, they could be good enough for a beginner. Don’t fall into this trap. A young beginner needs a piano with a good, in-tune sound for ear training. … A spinet has a different kind of action than better pianos.
How do you value a piano?
So how can you value your piano? The best way is to ask a professional piano tuner/technician to come and take a look at your piano. Make sure the tuner is a member of the Piano Tuners Association (PTA). Members of the PTA have passed a high level tuning test and also completed general piano repairs.
How do I find out how much a piano is worth?
Appraisers of used pianos and other consumer goods typically use three different methods to determine fair market value: comparable sales, depreciation, and idealized value minus the cost of restoration.