Any ideas on how to get rid of an old piano? Several of the organizations I usually donate to, do not take them. I was hoping to have it picked up, because its really heavy. Even if I loaded it up, I am not sure what to do with it. Its pretty old and really heavy!

I see them frequently on freecycle and they go quickly, or perhaps try Craigs List.

Renee

How old is old? Is it an upright? By upright, I mean, real wood and tall from around the turn of the century? I don't mean tall as in fake wood and not a grand or baby grand.............

If you have a true upright, it's possible an antique shop might be interested. You said you called your usual organizations, what about a church, local live theatre or daycare?

dl

We found out that our 1915 antique piano was basically going to cost $1200 to restore (the tuning pins needed to be completely replaced as they no longer could hold a tune; too loose in the holes) then we could sell it for $1200 so, we took it apart and have made many beautiful things from the wood (ie a fireplace mantle and an entry coat rack/bench for brother-in-law's house).

We sold the iron harp to a metal recycling place for $50 -- they pay by the pound.

The wood was worth so much... huge pieces of solid oak. I've heard of someone that made a bar out of a piano carcass... it pays to be good at woodworking.

It is worth more now than it was as an antique piano that couldn't hold a tune!

I am not sure what kind of wood it is. It is really not in that great of shape. It was the childhoodl piano of a friend of mine. She doesnt want it back. My daughter played it some, but it is out of tune, I dont know if it would hold one.
maybe I should just take it apart and see if I have anything I can do with it.

All pianos have to be tuned periodically, regardless of age. The true, old, upright pianos typically have the date inside when you open the top.

dl

My brother got an upright piano this summer from someone who had put an ad in the paper. They were giving it away free to whomever wanted to haul if off. Now my niece and nephew are learning to play the piano and enjoy it very much.

.

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~~~MsMiser

I second craigs list as an option, the hard part is often people then have to pay a mover to move it, then you have the cost o restoration..often they are more trouble then they are worth. Good luck!

Advertise the piano in the newspaper as free or small fee. One man's junk is another man's treasure.

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We're off to never never land

Have you contacted all the local schools and colleges? Or possibly local music schools. They might want it. (you mentioned organizations, not sure you included schools)

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freecycles
lots of folks are looking for old ones for their kids to learn on

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Here's an idea that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Mystery piano in woods perplexes police - CNN.com

My grandfather left me an old player piano. I learned to play on it, and then it just sat in my parent's basement. Tried to sell it - no one was interested. Finally placed a free ad in the local paper and offered it free to anyone who would haul it. It went the first day of the ad.

I saw a beautiful book shelf made within the frame of the piano - right up on a wall. It was really pretty.

My mom's piano was so far gone that my own tuner, who tuned it as a favor to me, said the tuning wouldn't last 30 minutes. He was right. We had no trouble getting the piano removed by using Craig's List.

Good luck!

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I wish someone would give us a free old piano. I would love to get the kids piano lessons. That is one of my goals next year. We live in a nice neighborhood, someone has to teach piano around here so I don't have to drive 25 miles to town. Best of luck getting rid of it. I know it will go fast on craigs list.

Old pianos that have not been tuned on a regular bais or have not been tuned for years will need several tunnings to get them back in tune, and even then they may not hold a tune. We had an old 125+ year upright piano that came with the old ball and claw stool. We wanted the stool , but had to take the piano too. The piano was worth nothing as a piano, most old pianos do not hold value as an instrument or an antique, but the stool recently appraised for $350.00 We took our piano apart as well, and if you do that, be prepared for a heavy, long, messy job. Those old pianos are SO heavy and becomes VERY dusty inside so have a vaccuum ready when you start. We kept the wood, for a future project, and still have the giant iron piece out of the inside that we need to get to the recycle center. We were left with a huge bag of old bolts and washers from our piano and actually sold them to a piano tuner in the area who was thrilled to get them for her customers who have old pianos that have been painstakingly restored or have been well cared for throughout their life. Also, if your piano is really of age and has an actual ivory keyboard, you can sell the entire keyboard or the keytabs if you can get them off. The tuner we sold the bolts to bought those too, and said they are becoming harder and harder to find for people who have a piano of that age in good shape.

We hauled away an old, old player piano. It was from an older woman who had it in her "summer house" and didn't use it any more since her husband passed away. We ended up with an old player piano and a bunch of rolls. Of course it didn't work, but we had someone come in to look at it and he got it playing. Now, of course, it was going to take a LOT of money to restore it. The finish wasn't good -- the owners had antiqued it. SO ... we had it redone! The guy who was restoring it (OF COURSE) told us it would be worth $15,000. It was only going to cost us about $5,000 to have it redone. BUT then it ended up costing about $10,000. So, was it worth it? Maybe? DH LOVES it. It does look nice in the living room. Do we use it enough to justify the cost? NO! But it is a piano from the 1900's. A player piano. And maybe some day, SOME DAY, we'll be able to sell it. Otherwise, it will be something that goes at a garage sale!

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Linda