Last year my mother gave me the most incredible gift…she parted with the piano that has been in our family since I was a little girl. I would have only been four or five, but I remember them moving it into the living room of our ranch house. All of my brothers and sisters learned how to play on that piano.
I remember my dad, tired from working outside, laying down and asking me to play “Hymne” by Vangelis and “The Homecoming” by Hagood Hardy. Needless to say, I felt elated and a little guilty that I would get to keep this piano. I assured my mother it was in good hands.
It is a beautiful piano. I haven’t seen many more uprights that are quite that elaborate. It is a Kimball, and the man who tuned it told me it was a 1904 model. He told me Kimball wasn’t known for having the highest quality pianos, but that there were a few years they built a very high quality piano, and mine was built during that period. I can tell you it still sounds fantastic (a lot better than new ones), and it has had minimal work done on it. But, that is all I knew. I recently decided to investigate it, and I found out some very interesting things. Here is a picture of my piano:
I found out I have a very unique piano. It is an antique Victorian upright. At the turn of the century, these pianos were made in Chicago. They were made out of three kinds of woods: rosewood, mahogany, and there were a few made out of oak. However, at the time, oak wasn’t considered to be “exotic” and was less desirable, and there weren’t very many cases made out of it. My piano is made out of quarter-sawn oak, so it is one of the rare ones! One exactly like it sold on antiquepianoshop.com for $10,000.00!
Here is the picture of the advertisement of my piano. Isn’t it great?!
Mine will definitely never be for sale. My two little girls will get to learn on it just as I did, and that can’t be replaced with any amount of money!
Good read … headline catchy … good points, some of which I have learned along the way as well (humility, grace, layoff the controversial stuff). Will share with my colleagues at work as we begin blogging from a corporate perspective. Thanks!
I have an identical piano!
I have a piano EXACTLY like this!! So wonderful to see you know more about it than me. If you email me, I will share some wonderful pictures of mine as well. We have ours in our farm house and it has been in almost everyone house on our block.
I also have received the same model Kimball upright. The quarter-sawn oak (often called “tiger wood” because of it’s unique grain patterns. I love the piano as well (mine is 1910) and look forward to passing it on to my children. Enjoy that heirloom!
You too Christopher! Thanks for stopping by.
I also have this piano ,also quarter sawn oak.It is so beautiful. Unfortunately, I need to have a ton of dental work and need to sell it. The wood was professionally and lovingly refinished in tung oil by my dear friend Roy a master furniture refinisher. It has 1 broken knob and it needs tuning . The keys are in perfect shape
$5000,00 or best offer. I’m in the Puget sound and a Piano dolly goes with it!
I hust got one of these given to me researched it and it’s the same needs restored looking to do it my self the right way mine is 1905 oak leaf acrorn carved in front has worlds fair sign on inside looking foward to learning more about it and how to dix it up
I too have this piano & my kids learned to play on it forty years ago. It is a beauty & everyone who visits my house remarks on it. We have done a lot of restoration work on the piano.
I’m searching for a beautiful piano like this to own for myself. Thanks for sharing, hopefully I will find one this nice.
Merry Christmas
John Paul Reeves
johnpaulreeves@yahoo.com
Just saw this . We have this piano . The one in the advertisement . We bought it in the early 80’s for about $2300 at a piano store. It was and is in perfect shape .
It will stay in our family.
Loved the details given !
I have one as well. Bought it for $100. It vibrates peace into my soul. I cant even play!! Well I can a bit but only what ice taught myself in IT. I know she was a special piece of art! But to see this and how much its truly worth is wild to knowni saved it from the trash! I am so blessed to have it and to be abme to learn how to play with such a piece of music history fills me with pride!! I would never sell it its middle C is my center!