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I HAVE RECENTLY INHERITED A IVERS AND POND PIANO, MODEL NUMBER 82505. IT IS IN FAIR CONDITION, BUT SOME KEYS DO STICK AND ONE SIDE HAS FADING DAMAGE FROM BEING IN FRONT OF A WINDOW.
CAN ANYONE GIVE ME AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WOULD BE TOO MUCH TO INVEST IN SUCH A PIANO?
I WOULD LIKE TO RESTORE IT, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS A PIANO WORTH RESTORING OR IF MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT IN BUYING A GOOD USED ONE.
ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRICIATED.

Vic,
Are you sure that's a model number you posted? Looks like a serial number, and if it is, someone here will be able to look up the piano's age for you. Is this a grand piano or an upright? The good news is, Ivers and Pond made a good piano and it is a brand often worth restoring. Tell us more about it, including its height or length (measured on a grand from keys to end of tail) and any other features (style, type of finish, etc.) and we'll be happy to help you!

penny

Vic,# 82505 was born in 1948.Is this a grand?What size.Ivers&Pond is a wonderful piano to rebuild/re-manufacture.

When I was a kid, I had an Ivers & Pond baby grand (probably a 5'2" or so made in the later 20s I believe) in our home. I practiced on it for 8 years or so. It was a sturdy, dependable, and pleasant sounding piano with a decent action. The bass tended to be a bit on the muddy side--the instrument's biggest drawback in my mind. Back then I used to consider it average, but not in the same class as the Boston-built Chickerings of its day. And once the Aeolian Piano Company got their hands on Ivers & Pond, the instrument became a mere "stencil piano" until it went out of production altogther (not sure what year, but some decades ago). When I visit my elderly parents, I play it for them occasionally (and my mother still enjoys playing it). It needs a ton (or maybe two tons) of work, and I have my doubts that it would be worth the cost. After visiting, I'm always thrilled to return to my own Baldwin! Before you take the plunge on rebuilding the I&P, I'd suggest you have it professionally evaluated determine feasibility of the project.

Lets stand back here for a moment.

I have said many times here and elsewhere that one of my favorite "golden age" pianos, those worth restoring, are vintage Ivers & Ponds. Yours is not one of these. The "model number" you gave indicates it was made in 1948, in Memphis, by the Aeolian American company, not the original Ivers & Pond folks in Boston who went out of business at the end of the 1920's. The designs of these Aeolian pianos are not the original I&P's. The originals were overbuilt, built like tanks. The purpose for this was clarity of tone as well as added tuning stability. THOSE pianos are certainly worth rebuilding with the best stuff you can find; soundboards, strings, hammers, action parts, etc. especially the big grands that they made. There are a few makes like this that are in this category. If and when they are brougfht to the attention of this forum I will respond in kind.

On another thread Hardman and Decker Bros. were mentioned. These were both excellent New York based makers who did their best work before World War I. A few old grands are probably still hanging around. By this time obviously they all need to be completely rebuilt and their asking price should be very low. And of course this is only a business for those who want to be in the piano business, who might want to assume the risk that the next generation of serious pianists might prefer something other than a Steinway.

I was wondering if someone could tell me about an Ivers and Pond upright piano that was given to us. It is in fairly good shape. 4 or 5 keys are a little chipped on the ends. Plays and sounds real well. When you open the keyboard lid, the music "shelf" slides forward so your sheet music leans back a little bit. It needs cleaning up or maybe restoring the body.

Inside the top of the piano, it has number 19 in large type. I think the serial number is 14938 and says " specially selected & voiced for W.D. Sproesser, Watertown, Wis." Then it has a few 1887 & 1888 patent dates on different parts of on sound board. When was the piano made and is it worth restoring the body? Did Ivers and Pond usually specially "select and voice" for people? Any help would be appreciated.

I have recently been given a piano that has been in the family for several generations and which I learned to play. I have been trying to research the piano to find out some basic history of the company and hopefully the piano (product year, ect.).
The piano is and upright ‘Product of Ivers & Pond Piano Co.-Boston’ and also has ‘Poole’ printed on the front. The Serial Number is 81251, dimensions are 56.25” (w) x 24” (d) x 36.75” (h).
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

If that is the serial number, it was made in 1947.

Thank you for the information! By any chance do you know if there is any information out there on the company history. I was only able to find on reference to the dates the company was open but wasn't able to verify the dates anywhere else.

Again thank you!

Contrary to those who have waxed rapsodic regarding Ivers & Ponds, IMO they will never have the intrinsic value to warrant costly refinishing and rebuilding. Spend $15k to completely redo one and you will be likely to sell it for $6k.

I recently Inherited an upright Ivers and Pond by the serial number of 42786 can anyone tell me the age?

You really should start a new topic for this, but your piano was made about 1907.

From the Piano Book Online:

http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/serial1.htm#TOP


IVERS & POND

Grand Pianos Ivers & Pond Numbers:

1900-24000 1922-71000 1935-78400 1950-84000
1905-37800 1923-72100 1936-78600 1955-86350
1910-48100 1924-73200 1940-79900 1960-91014
1915-57900 1925-74500 1946-80000 1962-94370
1920-68900 1930-77500 1947-80300 1963-97026

1960-91014 1966-109800 1972-127200 1978-144000
1961-92222 1967-112300 1973-130700 1979-145600
1962-94371 1968-116000 1974-135600 1980-148000
1963-97026 1969-120000 1975-137500 1981-150500
1964-100442 1970-121900 1976-140900 1982-145300