Antique 1917 Aeolian Duo-Art Reproducing Baby Grand Piano

Description

Aeolian-Duo-Art, Baby Grand Piano, bearing serial number 52641, manufactured in 1917. In excellent condition. Meticulously maintained climate controlled residential environment. When this instrument is tuned for maximum performance the value is ,750 (see attached May, 2015 Appraisal). Based on the age, condition, size, grade and rarity of this instrument. This value refers to the price that you would have to pay to buy the nearest equivalent to this piano. This is the average price asked for by a private party. This is the Fair Market Value an insurance company would pay in for replacement in case of loss. If there is not new equivalent, then usually the value is based upon what it would cost to find a used piano that is similar and have it remanufactured to like-new condition. (This is the fair market value you want to insure your piano for).
This piano was well known. This instrument was actuated by Duo Art music rolls.This name is known the world over in connection with musical instruments, It is applied to some of the various products of the Aeolian Company of New York which instruments of renown included the Duo Art Pianola, Weber Pianola, Steck Pianola, Wheelock Pianola, Stuyvesant Pianola, Steinway Duo Art Pianola, Stroud Pianola the Aeolian Orchestrelle and the Aeolian Pipe Organ; it also controlled the Meludee Music Co., Inc., and the Universal Music Co.
The reproducing piano added (to the basic player piano) the ability to recreate the touch, the shadings, the nuances, of the original recording - all the expression characteristics, and making the difference between purely mechanical sounds and true artistry. The paper roll was obliged, therefore, to include extra perforations which carried the "expression information" in coded form. These codes, which bear a resemblance to the language of modern computers, were either captured at the time of the initial recording or added later in an editing process. The reproducing piano was equipped with apparatus to "read" these expression holes and to reconstruct the exact expression of a piece while other holes played the notes.
The appraisal values are stated in U.S. Dollars and are based on market values from several sources. Based on comparisons of pianos of this age, condition and nature offered for sale in newspapers and the internet by private parties, music stores, auction houses, and piano teachers, These values are certified through research in Directories of the Music Industry such as, The Presto Piano Buyers Guide, The Pierce Musical Instrument Atlas, The Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments and The Bluebook of Pianos, and the Piano Times Newspaper. Our appraisals strictly adhere to the Ethics and guidelines of The International Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America, Inc. All of our appraisals follow the mandates of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, 2011. (Appraised Value in 2011 was ,840.00 without on-site inspection.)
Additional information: This Piano previously belonged to Hiram Walker (of whiskey fame) and for the past 55 years has belonged to Michigan Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld. It was completely reconditioned and refinished in 1990s and is in pristine condition. A true collector’s item. Other items available for negotiation are 180 reproducing rolls and 85 player-piano rolls.