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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3
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OP
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Hello
I am currently in possession of a pretty unique Steinway (NY) concert grand from the late '70s with not one but both Steinway brothers signatures on it. I'd like to ask how often they were signing pianos together? In what occasions? I can't find even a piece of information about it. I think it could be the only Steinway piano like that in the world.
I don't want to get in to too many details but anyone there willing to help - let's talk through the private message.
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 226
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Unless you are curating a piano museum, please don't pay extra for a piano just because it has signatures.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,196
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There is a long history of signed pianos in the marketplace - makers, artists, celebrities...these signatures may add interest but do not specifically add to the value. It does, without a doubt, add to the romance and history of an instrument and can make it easier to sell, but not really for a premium. It would matter more the provenance of why it was signed by both, and during what event as part of observing a historic event than the signatures themselves. Quite a few C&A instruments collect signatures from A-list artists before they are retired. In some cases, we've known customers to ask for all of the signatures to be removed.
While 2 signatures may be more rare than 1, 2 x $0 is still $0. I'm sorry to offer disappointing news. If you can uncover the history, that would be fun to share here. Sometimes during the rebuilding process, we will recognize signatures from some of Steinway's famous techs inside the piano, tucked away. It's fun to see Franz Mohr's signature on a key frame.
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Joined: Sep 2018
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OP
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Thank you for your replay. Well, I'm interested in the history of this piano only. It does, without a doubt, add to the romance and history of an instrument For some people it is exactly what they pay extra for and these values translate to money directly. According to my investigation, this piano could be somehow connected with Elvis Presley.
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,160
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Joined: May 2001
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I liken it to having a baseball signed by Cal Ripkin.
He signed thousands of them during his 120-year career. They sell online very inexpensively.
The Steinway family attended "signing sales" where one or more of them were paid $5000 or so plus expenses by a local Steinway dealer to shake hands and sign pianos for potential buyers.
Piano Industry Consultant Contributing Editor & Consultant - Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer Jasons Music Maryland/DC/No. VA Family Owned and Operated Since 1937. www.jasonsmusic.comMy postings, unless stated otherwise, are my personal opinions, not those of my clients.
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Joined: Oct 2015
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He signed thousands of them during his 120-year career. They sell online very inexpensively. I'm surprised. I would think that a baseball signed by an active(!) centenarian player would go for quite a bit, no matter how many there are... 
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Joined: Sep 2018
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Like Steve above, we have observed that signatures don't translate to a difference monetarily on the price of a Steinway piano. There is a certain coolness factor to them, but it usually ends at that point.
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Joined: May 2001
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Well, I'm interested in the history of this piano only....
For some people it is exactly what they pay extra for and these values translate to money directly.
According to my investigation, this piano could be somehow connected with Elvis Presley.
I will echo my experience as being similar to what you have already heard from others, thekrepa. The late '70s was the height of the "signing sales" that Steve mentioned. I would suspect if there are 2 signatures, this may have been a piano sold in NY, but I could be wrong about that. I don't what to mislead you with false hope, but there can also be "a needle in the haystack" situation. For instance, the President of The Three Stooges fan club purchased Curly's spinet piano and had it sent directly to us. The piano was not well built when new, had structural issues, and we did not recommend doing what was necessary to restore it to new. (Frankly, we did not want to do that work either). The customer asked for our proposal, so we gave a proposal that included a disclaimer stating that we did not recommend doing the work and the real value after completion would be a small fraction of the cost. She did the work anyway. To her, it had value. I wish you luck and I would interested to hear anything you find out about this piano.
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Joined: Nov 2017
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If you know the serial number you can contact Steinway and find out where this piano was sold to and trace its respective owner(s) with that information.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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I've been with Steinway over 35 years; I personally traveled with John Steinway and with Henry Steinway - many times - to events where they signed pianos, upon request.
Never once in my experience did a dealer pay either Henry or John for this.
Bob Snyder Senior District Manager Steinway & Sons rsnyder@steinway.com www.steinway.com
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 248
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For instance, the President of The Three Stooges fan club purchased Curly's spinet piano and had it sent directly to us. This made the thread for me! Never once in my experience did a dealer pay either Henry or John for this. Nevertheless, Steinway will use this as a selling point (though admittedly minor) for their pianos bearing signatures; I just experienced that several months ago at a factory showroom near Chicago.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,600
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I asked my salesman if he would ask Henry Z Steinway to sign my piano. He did, no charge. Its fun to point it out to those interested. I have seen several signed Steinways, usually its a well known artist.
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Joined: Sep 2018
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OP
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I have seen several signed Steinways, usually its a well known artist. Well, to spice things up, my investigation about this piano lead me to Memphis where it arrived just few months before Elvis Presley's death. Isn't it interesting? She did the work anyway. To her, it had value. Exactly! For me just the fact of investigating this piano's history is really fun. I truly enjoy it and it's an exiting journey. I'd like to say thank you to all the great people that helped me so far here and on other more or less virtual places. I'll keep you guys updated, wish me luck!
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