Maybe I'll bid on a 1830s square fortepiano (hammerklavier)

[rickardg]

A nice looking hammerklavier from the 1830s has surfaced at the local auction house.

As far as I can tell the internal shape is decent, it's naturally wildly out of tune, one hammer is missing and a few others stick, but the action feels light and responsive. I'm completely clueless when it comes to evaluating historical pianos though.

There is no manufacturer's label as far as I could see and the auctioneers didn't know the provenance either. They estimated that it would go for about €350-550 or possibly less depending on interest, but who knows if it's salvageable or how much it would cost to restore it. Nevertheless I'm sorely tempted to place a bid on it.

Any piano technicians/historians out there that would like to comment...? :-)

[M forever]

What do you want with an old piano? This is the equipment you need t express your wildest musical ideas:

[springrite]

Unless you want to spend a fortune to restore it and to present concerts with it, then treat it as a nice piece of furniture. For that, it ain't bad at all.

[Szykneij]

Nevertheless I'm sorely tempted to place a bid on it.

I would be, too! I don't know much about historical pianos either, but I'm an easy mark when it comes to old musical instruments. Who knows where that piano has been, what's been played on it, and who has played it during its nearly two-century lifetime? I say, go for it! Maybe you'll get it for a steal.