E BOOK OF PIANOS
 

PIANOS AND THEIR RETAIL PRICES IN 1957

Any first class console or studio upright piano is an excellent musical instrument, and will outperform and outlast an inexpensive, small piano spinet, grant it,  that is if you wish to play a concert. But a spinet piano will still provide endless hours of fun if that is the purpose of having a piano in the "family room".  These are accurate "retail" prices of pianos in 1957 these were the "fair trade" prices set by each factory and honored by all retailers nationwide before the term "price fixing" was created.  Any of these pianos 43 years old in good condition are worth much more today as used pianos.

GROUP I

The pianos listed in Group I includes the top pianos of unquestioned merit and the most expensive you could buy. These were the very best and the most popular brands and sizes by far.

BRAND NAME

SPINET

CONSOLE

STUDIO-UPRIGHT

GRAND
         
Steinway & Sons  

$1,495 - $1,700

$1,375 - $1,700

$2,790 - $5,100
Mason & Hamlin  

$1,370 - $1,695

 

$2,945 - $4,695

Baldwin

 

$1,030 - $1,195

 

$2,675 - $4,625
Knabe  

$1,120 - $1,410

 

$1,980 - $3,330
Chickering  

$1,070 - $1,320

 

$1,940 - $3,320
Sohmer  

$955 - $1,325

 

$2,040 - $2,590

Acrosonic by Baldwin

$884 - $1,095

 

 

 

GROUP II

Group II includes pianos of excellent quality in a medium price range.

BRAND NAME

SPINET

CONSOLE

STUDIO-UPRIGHT

GRAND

Story & Clark

$695 - $995

$755 - 860

$845 - $875

 

Krakauer

 

$1,095 - $1,595

$1,125

 

Janssen

$595 - $795

$795 - $1,120

 

 

Everett

$810 - $1,010

$1,030 - $1,195

 

 

Kimball

$750 - $780

$695 - 1,045

$750 - $800

$2,115 - $2,660

J & C Fischer

 

$840 - $916

$830 - $840

$1,490 - $1,620

Gulbransen

$550 - $995

$695 - $1,050

$825 - $925

$1895 - $1,995

 GROUP III

Group III includes pianos generally in a lower price but capable of giving satisfactory service.

BRAND NAME

SPINET

CONSOLE

STUDIO-UPRIGHT

GRAND
         

Weaver

 

$825 - $1,320

$940 - $990

 

Winter Musette

$585 - $975

 

 

 

Wurlitzer

$495 - $695

$725 - $1,195

$715 - $745

$1,745 - $3,685

Hobart M. Cable

$595 - $695

$645 - $795

 

 

Kranich & Bach

 

$995 - $1,190

 

$2,065 - $2,495

Cable-Nelson

$535 - $740

 

 

 

Kohler & Campbell

$715 - $765

$735 - $895

$795 - $830

 

Cable

$725 - $825

$810 - $910

$845 - $880

$1,795 - $1,995

Estey

$745 - $945

$795

 

 

Betsy Ross

 $650 - $900 

$850 - $1,100

 

 

Personal preferences in tone and touch, style, budget and size all play a part and are extremely subjective. Each piano maker has its own unique features and points of excellence and value.  The purpose of this guide is to give you the best consumer information to help you make your own decision.