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.