Bev just found an arts and crafts style piano in Albuquerque. It is available for under $500. Bev is going to try to provide pictures if she can. One thing that bothers us is that the wood is veneered. I have read here that veneer was not commonly used in arts and crafts furniture. Was piano construction done using different conventions?

I want to assure you that we are also having the piano examined by people who know pianos. We have no idea what its potential is as a musical instrument, which is another matter entirely.

i can almost guarantee all pianos are done in veneer, regardless of maker or age.

my father-in-law and i were having this discussion just last week. he has been a musician and piano tuner, technician, rebuilder for over 40 years. all piano bodies are a combination of hardwoods and softwoods, usually poplar, covered with veneer.

unless you are a very accomplish pianist, a good technician/tuner can probably make it useable unless the soundboard is cracked or something drastic.

Dear Don,

I got the piano for $300 cash. It is a true upright grand--a Camp & Co. piano made by Estey. (They went out of business around the time of the depression.) The model number inside dates the piano to 1917.

I dusted it and the patina is gorgeous. Someone is giving me an estimate on reattaching some of the veneer that has come loose on the bottom.

The sound board in not cracked and there are only a few keys out of tune. Our piano teacher can't believe this piano. It will be tuned on Monday and he wants to be there to find out what the tuner will tell us about it.

It would cost around $2000 to $3000 to have the guts of the piano restored. Then the piano would be worth between $12000 and $15000.

I contacted someone on a website about having it restored. He said that A & C piano's are rare and gave me a value on the piano without even seeing pictures. This value was based on the manufacturer and size.

Bev.

And yes, I will post pictures as soon as I can figure out how to do it.

We finally have some pictures:
This closeup shows the ray flake very well:

A great piece! Congratulations.

Fred