Baldwin Pianos are a musical legacy that for over a century, continues to live on. Each piano that carries the name Baldwin, is a piece of that legacy which has contributed to American piano history and manufacturing. Company History The company was founded by Dwight Hamilton Baldwin in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862. Also known as D.H. Baldwin, the name has always been one of the most widely renowned names in the American piano industry and history.The company originally began as a retail enterprise,who sold Steinway and Chickering pianos. They began manufacturing their ownpianos in 1889, as 'D.H.
Baldwin & Co.' In 1903, shortly after the founder's death, the name became the Baldwin Piano & Organ Co.Baldwin also manufactured pianos under the names Acrosonic, Ellington, Franke, Hamilton, Howard, Kremlin, Manualo, Modello, Monarch, St.Regis, Sargent, Schroeder, Valley Gem, Winton,. Recognition and Design In 1904, the Baldwinpiano was awarded the Grand Prize at the Louisiana PurchaseExposition, St. Louis, Mo., and another Grand Prize was also awarded tothe Baldwin pianos and Manualos at the Anglo-American Exposition,London, 1914.
The Baldwin piano is recognized as a universal favorite between the leading operatic artists and virtuosos of the pianoforte.TheBaldwin Grand Piano, which was designed, manufactured and guaranteed bythe Baldwin Company in Loveland, Ohio, is exclusively enjoyed by toptier of artists in all areas of musical expression – ranging frompianists, composers, conductors, singers, and instrumentalists - as wellas outstanding symphony orchestras all over the globe.Baldwin Pianos: Modern TimesBaldwin purchased the andnames in 1988, but in 2008, both names ceased production. (Korea)manufactured pianos with the DH Baldwin name in the 1980s, as pianoswere purchased by Baldwin and sold through Baldwindealers.Around the decade of the 1990’s, the company was sold and relocated toArkansas and Missouri.
Today, Baldwin is owned by the famous GibsonGuitar Company (in 2001).The following brands have been in use or are in development by Gibson, since 2003: A.B. Chase, Aeolian, Ampico, DH Baldwin (built in Arkansas since 2004, discontinued in 2008), Cable, Ellington (2003, made in China), Hamilton, Howard grand pianos, Ivers & Pond, J & C Fischer, Monarch, Mozart, Pianola, Pianovelle, Sargent.In 2006/2007, Gibson purchased the Dongbei Piano Group, the third biggest Chinese piano maker in the world.In 2008, Baldwin moved all production of pianos to factories in China (ownedby Gibson Guitars, Nashville, TN). Pianos are manufactured there for the USmarket, the Chinese domestic market, and otherinternational piano markets.Baldwin ceased piano production at itsonly remaining U.S. Factory in Trumann, Arkansas in December 2008. Thisfacility remains open as a US distribution and service center.Withoutany doubt and dispute, from the nine-foot concert grand to the fivefeet, two inch baby grand, every Baldwin piano demonstrates the most modernideas of acoustical science and piano making; its manufacture isprecision engineered, which gives each instrument the highest degree ofexcellence. Any Baldwin made piano is worth the time, money and energyto rebuild or refurbish.Baldwin Piano Serial Numbers / Piano AgeFind the age of your Baldwin piano using the serial number chart found below.
Welcome to Estey Piano Piano Appraisal: The Value of Your PianoTheValue of Your PianoThis Virtual Appraisal will give you a rough idea of what your pianomight be worth. Included are general values based upon formulas usedin my 35 years of experience buying, selling, tuning and restoringpianos. A large part of my job has been to assess the condition ofa piano and what it will need before I go on the service call.The Formula for older pianosWhen I calculate value on an older piano, I am really estimating conditionand cost of repair, coupled with brand names and models.$$ How much the piano could sell for in mint condition-$$ The cost of getting it into mint condition$$ The estimated wholesale value (if you sell to a dealer)x Two or Three$$ The estimated retail value (if you sell to an end user)Young PianosWhat is a “young” piano?
Piano serial numbers identify the (1) age of your piano, the (2) piano's year of manufacture, as well as (3) the circumstances surrounding the production of your piano, including factory history, manufacturing processes, and company ownership and oversight.
Think of a piano like a person.A 30 year old should be in great shape, all things being equal. If youhave a piano that is 30 or younger, you can usually get a good idea ofwhat it may be worth by doing an on line search for other pianos forsale similar to your own.Age of your pianoThe age speaks volumes, and many times determines the overall qualitylevel.To find the age of your piano, you will need the name and serial number.Service RecordsIf you have had the piano serviced on a regular basis, find those tuningreceipts as proof the piano has been well maintained.
This will alsogive the prospective buyer a professional contact to verify the conditionof your piano. The original purchase price, if available, will helpdetermine its present value as well, giving you a starting point inthe formula.Restored PianosA receipt for the work performed is vital to determining the value. Ittells us who did the work, what was done, how well it was done, andhow long we can expect it to last.Exceptions to ConditionName Brand: You may own a very good name piano, such as Steinway.Even in the worst condition, most Steinway Grand pianos can sell for$5,000 to $15,000 or more.
Other names of valuable pianos would include:Mason and Hamlin, Boosendorfer, Bechstein, Baldwin, Blunther, Sauter,to name only a few. A quick web search will reveal if your piano's namealone carries value.Ornate or Unusual Case Design: If your piano is very ornatewith carvings and inlays, or a very unusual case design, this can makethe piano more valuable no matter what the name of the piano is.This example is common Winter Spinet piano, but the ornate carvingsand inlays on the case give it more value than an ordinary case.If you think your piano falls into one of these categories, you mayneed our personal assistance.Lets find out what kind of piano you have.An upright piano (shown left) has vertical strings and soundboard. Canbe 3–5+ feet tall.A grand piano (shown right) has horizontal strings and soundboard andhas 3,4, or 6 legs.