Well, technically a Spinet given the size of the harp, but I'm having trouble finding anything on google.
Henry Frooms is the name on it, London and Manchester. I'm not looking to restore it since it is WAY past Robitussin. I'm looking to polish up the outsides to use as a prop at the theater. If it's something that is a worthy collecor, I'll just leave the guts alone. If it's a no-name junk piano, I might gut it and slide an electric keyboard in it.
Only thing I found was that he had a few Piano patents, and the company was around from 1855-1909
That's no Spinet, I'd call it an Upright Grand. 
That's one beautiful old piano, does it still mostly play? Are there any dates inside maybe cast into the frame? Two pedals and candelabras sure date it, possibly up to almost 170 years old and around the Civil War era. I think that it would be a shame to junk it out after surviving all of those years. If anything, it belongs in a museum. I'm assuming you have also seen these links below.
Pianoforte-makers in England -F-
Upright Piano Types & Sizes (Largest To Smallest)
Agree not a spinet. Spinet uses a drop action.
https://pianotechniciantuner.com/blog/piano-or-spinet-ten-ways-to-tell
Also agree that's a gorgeous old piano.
johndej
UltraDork
5/14/24 2:18 p.m.
Where on earth did you find it?
Lack of info on the web points to relative rarity. Might be worth a small fortune to the right piano collector. And I'm sure you know a lot of people who collect pianos.
I agree it looks too nice/cool to be gutted.
However, "old and rare" does not necessarily equal "valuable" and according to Google they generally sell for under $1000.
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Well, if $1000 isn't a "small" fortune, I don't know what is!
johndej
UltraDork
5/14/24 3:08 p.m.
In reply to johndej :
The only Dutch in which I'm fluent is Pennsylvania Dutch.
1988RedT2 said:
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Well, if $1000 isn't a "small" fortune, I don't know what is!
Well... it is a fair improvement over "Free! Come and get it!" which is how most upright pianos get sold these days... at least ones not branded "Steinway"...
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:
1988RedT2 said:
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Well, if $1000 isn't a "small" fortune, I don't know what is!
Well... it is a fair improvement over "Free! Come and get it!" which is how most upright pianos get sold these days... at least ones not branded "Steinway"...
I'm well-acquainted with that scenario. Paid a couple hundred for a 1940's Chickering upright ten years ago. Recently gave it to a family that attends our church. I even had to help move it. LOL.
1988RedT2 said:
Where on earth did you find it?
Lack of info on the web points to relative rarity. Might be worth a small fortune to the right piano collector. And I'm sure you know a lot of people who collect pianos.
Uprights that need work are not all that that expensive. My 1912 K52 Steinway which had been recased in a modern frame was like 5K full serviced and delivered. This could cost more then its worth just for a restring and clean.
But maybe I am wrong here.
1988RedT2 said:
Where on earth did you find it?
Lack of info on the web points to relative rarity. Might be worth a small fortune to the right piano collector. And I'm sure you know a lot of people who collect pianos.
It has been shoved in the back corner of the theater's props room ever since I started working there 10 years ago. We never had a production that needed it until now. We're doing Intimate Apparel, which is set in 1905 Manhattan and uses a piano on which someone plays a ragtime tune. The ironic part is that the woman we cast to play the role actually plays piano in real life, but the piano is pretty much a sad wreck. There are a dozen broken hammers, most of the keys are sticky, the strings are green from corrosion, and some of the wood on the back frame has cracked. Fixable? Certainly. Fixable for under $4000? Likely not. It needs strings, glue, hammers, epoxy, and new veneer on at least the lid... assuming that 150 years of hot/cold/damp/dry/transport hasn't cracked the harp. The filigree on the face is also broken and missing a few pieces, which could be repaired. I would probably find someone with a large enough laser bed to just copy/amend/cut.
For the sake of this play, I pulled the hammer cartridge out so it couldn't make sound. The hammers are black and smell like ancient tobacco smoke.
I know two piano tuning/repair guys, both of whom are keen on snatching up a classic, and they both reacted to it in the same way we would look at a free Biturbo after it went through a fire and then a flood.
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:
1988RedT2 said:
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Well, if $1000 isn't a "small" fortune, I don't know what is!
Well... it is a fair improvement over "Free! Come and get it!" which is how most upright pianos get sold these days... at least ones not branded "Steinway"...
In other ironic news - we just got a free Steinway upright. Darn nice one too. Donation from Lock Haven University.
wearymicrobe said:
1988RedT2 said:
Where on earth did you find it?
Lack of info on the web points to relative rarity. Might be worth a small fortune to the right piano collector. And I'm sure you know a lot of people who collect pianos.
Uprights that need work are not all that that expensive. My 1912 K52 Steinway which had been recased in a modern frame was like 5K full serviced and delivered. This could cost more then its worth just for a restring and clean.
But maybe I am wrong here.
You're pretty much in the ballpark. I was quoted $4k for an older short grand to restring and fix what they could see was wrong, but they pretty much asked for a blank check in case they discovered other things along the way. Long story short, that short grand will become a lovely water feature for the lobby when I get the time one day. It was an entry-level, off-brand cheapy to start with. It was the Maxspeedingrods of rehearsal grands in the 60s, so I don't mind bastardizing it.
Our financial situation is pretty good for a non-profit theater, but that just means we can afford coffee for the break room and lumber to build the sets. We haven't fixed our leaking roof for 10 years, nor have we found the money to fix our Marquee out front, but I'm thankful for coffee and a paycheck. I'm certain that spending thousands on an ancient piano isn't in the cards for what amounts to a prop that might get used once every 6-10 years. Not to mention, it needs maintenance at least yearly to remain viable.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:
I know two piano tuning/repair guys, both of whom are keen on snatching up a classic, and they both reacted to it in the same way we would look at a free Biturbo after it went through a fire and then a flood.
That pretty much says all that needs to be said, right there.
mtn
MegaDork
5/14/24 10:51 p.m.
Sounds like ripping out the innards and putting a keyboard in it would make a lot of sense.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:I know two piano tuning/repair guys, both of whom are keen on snatching up a classic, and they both reacted to it in the same way we would look at a free Biturbo after it went through a fire and then a flood.
So which one is on the way with the trailer?
Steve_Jones said:
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:I know two piano tuning/repair guys, both of whom are keen on snatching up a classic, and they both reacted to it in the same way we would look at a free Biturbo after it went through a fire and then a flood.
So which one is on the way with the trailer?
2025 will mark the first appearance of a piano at the Challenge?!?!
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
In that case, I change my vote to "gut the sucker" and modify the hammer mechanism so that it looks like it works but doesn't make any sound. Or your idea of figuring out a way to get a synth piano in place of the keys. It's still probably be heavy AF to move around, but slightly less so.
Maybe one of your piano restoration buddies could use some of the parts.
SV reX
MegaDork
5/15/24 10:22 a.m.
It's cool, but has no value. Just like a cool project car, at some point it is just taking up space.
Sounds like you are at that point.
Make it a prop. Gut the innards, and maybe cut up the case so it is held together with loose pin hinges so it can store easier.
It's actually not terribly heavy fully assembled. Two of us pretty easily laid it down to remove the casters, and we were able to lift it up on an 8" platform. I imagine it might be pretty light without the harp in it. I'm guessing 300 lbs as it sits.
I would like to know more about it, though. I found the patents and some other things, but I was hoping for a "Frooms Piano Owners" group or forum.
