When we moved in, there was a piano in the basement…a really old piano. After talking to some neighbors, we discovered that the piano belonged to the original owners who built the house in 1928. When they moved out in 1993, the piano, which had been moved to the basement for storage (not a good idea) was apparently too heavy to move, so they left it. And there it sits today.
So, here’s where you come in. We need to decide what to do with it. We have three options that I can think of. Leave a quick comment and let us know what you think. Here are the options (we’re open to others if you have any)…
- Leave the piano in the basement and make up a cool story to go with it – aka The Legend of the Piano
- Recycle the piano, i.e. reuse the wood for other projects, somehow dispose of the innards
- Just get rid of it and avoid the hassle altogether
Just to clarify, we were hoping to get it fixed, but it’s beyond repair, as it has 2 cracks in the soundboard. So, what do you think?
Reuse! It’s beautiful wood! That basement is looking mighty clean!
I think you guys should recycle it. The wood would look great as a book shelf or coffee table or whatever you make of it. The insides will be useless unless you have an idea for a bunch of strings????
Love ya!
I’m for recycling it, also. I’m assuming there’s no way to get a new soundboard for it?
There are really only two options:
1) Keep it and learn how to play it if you don’t know already.
2) In case it’s in a bad condition, get rid of it, buy a new one and then learn how to play it if you don’t know already.
We also inherited the original piano that went with our 1900 Folk Victorian Farmhouse. It does need some work but the finish is still in good unrestored condition. I just love having the original piano of the family that built this house. Just my thoughts. Good luck on your choices.
Susan
Dismantle it?! That’s upsetting. I think that if you were planning to fix it and keep it, you should just build it into your basement remodel and have the whole ledgand of the piano thing. I think that’s a great idea. I realize that I am SO late in posting my thoughts on this. But I just wanted to let you know what I thought. I stumbled upon your blog randomly, and your story is quite interesting. Whatever happened to the piano? It has been a few months now. I am very curious. Good luck with the rest of the remodel!
Better late than never with a comment.
Definitely reuse the wood in your reno. Both the front panel and top would make interesting tables. I once saw, in a garden, a broken soundboard that had been stood upright (set in concrete) with some rubber weights hung from fishing line in front of it – it made the most amazing windchime.
i’m all for taking the piano apart and using the materials for other projects. absolutely the best idea. (i can leave this suggestion a year later because i happen to know very well that that piano still sits in your basement.) i also agree with cellfish – you should get a different, working piano – then call me.
Same fscking problem. huge stand up piano in my basement . chekerings and sons pre 1920.. nobody wants it. everyone says to hevy. i was going to sawzall it but i think i’ll keep the wood!.
if you still have the piano in your basement, check out what I do with them on my website
http://www.tinkertunes.com/upright-furniture-co