Hamilton Piano Value – What Are These Pianos Worth?
Today, we will discuss the value of a Hamilton Piano, what to look out for when planning to purchase a Hamilton, and what are the overall values of said pianos. The Hamilton Piano Company, like the Howard, was a subsidiary of the famous Baldwin Piano Company from the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Its namesake was from the original founder, Dwight Hamilton Baldwin.
Hamilton Piano Value – What is a Hamilton Worth?
The Hamilton Piano value can vary from a couple thousand dollars for a used vintage piano to roughly $20,000 for a fully restored piano. The worth of your Hamilton piano can be much lower if it is cosmetically damaged, or its sound is poor, or the weight and touch response of the keys is off due to problems with the strings or hammers.
Conversely, a Hamilton piano that has been restored to its former glory can go for more than its expected value because well kept vintage piano are coveted by piano enthusiasts.
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Examples of Hamilton Piano Prices
Let’s examine what a handful of notable Hamilton pianos are selling for on the open market.
1) This is an ebony finished Hamilton piano being sold at Jim Laabs Music in the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota for the low price of $2,885. This piano has signs of a previous owner who maintained it well, and a piano store that kept it in tune. We have a video, which is a great asset for a buyer to have if they cannot physically visit the store.
No damage or finish fatigue, the keys are clean and show no signs of deterioration. A great buy for a beginner to get started!
2) From Reeder Pianos in Michigan comes a Hamilton upright for the price of $3,990 in a beautiful oak satin finish. Not only is the piano in great shape, but the folks at Reeder Pianos have gone through a reconditioning process for the piano, so you know that the piano has been well kept and is in great shape.
The process includes processes such as keytop polishing, pedal adjusting, string cleaning, and tuning to name a few. Tuning is extremely important for a piano to sound great.
3) This is another Hamilton upright, but it has been sold for the price of $4,200 and finished in walnut. This is from The Piano Store in California. A beauty for a beginner who has a decent amount of change to spend at a beginner piano from a respected company. Other than no video that shows you the piano in action, this is still a great piano to buy when looking for one.
4) The Living Pianos shop in Cleveland, Ohio had just sold a 1987 Hamilton upright for the price of $4,395 and was finished in a semi-gloss walnut finish. Its original price was $12,495. This is another piano that has been well taken care of in its past, and the video shows that this piano has the sound and gusto of any modern piano being sold today.
5) A Hamilton B-47 is being sold at Hollywood Piano in Los Angeles for the price of $6,495 and finished in satin walnut. Again, this seller has shown a decent number of pictures that show the buyer a great piano, but a great description of the Baldwin Piano Company down below.
6) This 1903 Hamilton Upright doesn’t have a price, but what makes this listing great is that the folks at Antique Piano Shop in Tennessee show the prospective buyer the disassembly and restoration process. This family heirloom came in rough, with its velour faded from years. After an exhaustive process, the piano looks like it came from a time traveler visiting 1903. Why highlight this piano folks?
This upright shows the buyer what should be done when a piano is restored before sale. Finally, if you are looking for a Hamilton of that age, it should be a guide to look out for if the piano is original and unrestored.
Below, check out a video that shows you what a restored 1932 Hamilton piano looks and sounds like:
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Hamilton Brand Recognition
If you don’t know the Baldwin Piano Company, you probably don’t know the Hamilton Piano, because it was a Baldwin brand, like the Howard back in the day. They are relegated to knowing the parent company first and delving deep into the history of Baldwin. As far as we can see, the Hamilton was being made as late as 2008, when Baldwin stopped making pianos in the United States and had their pianos made overseas in China.
Factors That Affect a Piano’s Value
Regardless of a piano’s make and date, there are a couple of factors that determine how much a vintage piano can be. First, the piano’s finish and general cosmetics play a role. If the piano’s finish and body has been damaged or unkempt in its age, the value will go down. Aesthetics don’t play a role in a piano’s playability, but it is something to consider if you want a piano to look good for visitors of your house to look at and of course, play!
The tune of the piano is another aspect to consider, no one wants a tuneless piano to play. Not only does it not sound great, but it could damage the piano in the long term. Of course, a tuneless piano for sale is another cost that you have to add to your budget if you’re buying an abused piano.
How to Know the Value of a Hamilton Piano
To know the value of a Hamilton Piano requires researching on the web and talking with sellers, appraisers, and tuners. Researching pianos and the Hamilton history will help you determine the time the pianos were made, and show you an eclectic variety of pianos ranging from well kept to badly maintained.
While we don’t recommend Piano Mart or eBay to buy a piano because sellers might not know what they have, these sites are still decent resources to look around. Plus, once in a full moon, there will be a solid deal.
The tuner and appraiser will have experience working with Hamiltons or to appraise them. Luckily for the prospective buyer, the Hamilton was a brand from the legendary Baldwin Piano Company, a respected American buyer that still makes pianos today, even if they are made in China.
A final note for folks interested in Hamilton baby grand pianos (or grand pianos, for that matter). They are around, but are likely in poor condition with some baby grands being sold at $2,000.
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