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Another oddity on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mathushek-Medium-Square-Grand-Piano-Rosewood-69-W-Circa-1870-S-PA5586AM/154054317665?hash=item23de5a5661:g:1wIAAOSw7blfQAQm

I've put two of the photos in the Picture Gallery, but, as usual, I can't figure out how to get them into this post.

Anyway, the instrument is a foot narrower than your ordinary square piano, making it 5-1/2 ft., and the strings are arranged as in a Mathushek Spinet Grand. However, the case and cabriole legs make it obvious that this is no 1930's piano. The plate has no plate to it, being comprised of struts and probably a little lighter for that reason.

Here's one:



Here's the other:



Regards,

This looks a lovely instrument - except that "Does not play well as is, will need piano specialist". $2000 seems a lot of money for an antique piano in this condition.

Let me say that square pianos have no market value. You can't get parts for them, they are difficult to tune (the wrestpins are along the rear of the plate, so the tuner has to stand all the time and reach across the piano), the action is different, and they are heavy and a bear to move. That said, they have a nice big sound (the A#0 string is six feet long) and historical interest. The cases all look the same, at different levels of ornateness, but this one has a good rosewood finish that you won't find on any modern piano.
If I already owned this one, I would keep it in my front parlor and tinker with it. But $3,000 (including the movers' fee) is too much for a piece of furniture.

I agree with much of what Ed has said, although there are a few people who will make custom parts upon request. That is not cheap. The result would be a piano you have $40k+ into, perhaps more.. This is not for the faint of heart.

Or you could go for this one which is to be sold by auction. This is from the 1930s. (I had not known that square pianos were made that recently.) Could be a nice instrument.

That is the Spinet Grand I referred to. There are usually several of them available on the market. Probably less heavy and more practical, but they still have the long key levers of a square piano. Differences are the triple-stringing, overdampers, and an uninteresting modern case. Also three pedals; I wonder what they actually do. I don't see the square-piano lute stop -- a strip of leather interposed between the hammers and strings -- in either instrument.
I've also noticed a few Chickering straight-strung but iron-frame square pianos offered recently. I expect they would be like those British straight-strung pub pianos: a lot of piano for very little sound.