# Where do the old pianos go? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273 "2017-09-13T20:33:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/21 "2017-09-14T01:59:17Z")
At least eight old pianos ended up in a barn in Niko Case’s farm. She was recording [Middle Cyclone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Cyclone) and thought it would be a cool idea to have a “[piano orchestra](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2009/02/15/magazine/15case-600.jpg)”. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/22 "2017-09-14T03:21:13Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > The guy who bought my grandmother’s house threw out the piano that was in one of the bedrooms. If I remember correctly, there wasn’t enough resale value to justify the cost of taking it out of the house intact. It had been built into one of the bedrooms and didn’t fit through the door. A friend of ours has a similar situation with a player piano down in the basement. Interestingly it still plays well and one can still by the tapes to make the player part work. But its VERY heavy and she says it will go with the house. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/23 "2017-09-14T03:41:15Z")
[Denver’s 16th Street Mall?](http://www.denverpost.com/2016/05/10/the-story-behind-the-pianos-on-denvers-16th-street-mall/) ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/24 "2017-09-14T03:41:31Z")
We’re remodeling my grandparents’ house, and the piano is a bone of contention. It’s an utterly pedestrian upright player, but it’s utterly borked. The player mechanism was removed years ago - , before my memory. Half of the keys don’t play at all. Technically, it belongs to my aunt, who seems to think it’s worth something. I have given her a deadline - if she wants it, come get it. Otherwise, I’m using the truck to yank that sucker out of there. If possible, I’ll salvage some of the wood for a couple of projects. But I fully intend to move it in pieces. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/25 "2017-09-14T04:23:41Z")
I feel like [prepared pianos](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prepared_piano) are ripe for a comeback. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/26 "2017-09-14T12:24:36Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > One of my favorite scenes from Northern Exposure was when Chris, as a piece of performance art, launched one from a trebuchet. > > The entire town came out to watch. The sound on landing was magnificent. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rn8jBzsg9U) is a real-life example, the DPW\* launching a _flaming_ (well, smouldering) piano at Burning Man a couple years ago. \*Department of Public Works, equal parts carnie, carpenter, and cowboy. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/27 "2017-09-14T13:08:57Z")
Another idea, put it out in the wilderness or even on some sidewalk and let whoever wants to come by and play it all they want. Then as it ages, the city or whoever eventually comes in and hauls it away. Someone else then “donates” another one. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/28 "2017-09-14T13:43:35Z")
Here is another use of (I assume) old pianos: [OK Go - Needing/Getting - Official Video - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MejbOFk7H6c) //i\ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/29 "2017-09-14T18:13:52Z")
Given the restrictions on ivory imports these days (to discourage poaching of elephant tusks), are old ivory keys collected by anyone for use in new pianos? ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/30 "2017-09-14T19:36:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Given the restrictions on ivory imports these days (to discourage poaching of elephant tusks), are old ivory keys collected by anyone for use in new pianos? I think some piano repair people collect them, but no one who wants to stay out of jail would collect them for use in new pianos. The restrictions aren’t just on imports - it’s basically not legal to sell piano keys or pianos containing ivory, much less manufacture new ones. To sell one it has to be at least 100 years old and can’t have been repaired with ivory since 1973 to be legal, so any piano that was made mid-century (in the baby boom years or later) won’t qualify, not will any that have been repaired in the last four decades. Nothing made with ivory today is legal to sell, period. I believe Ebay won’t even list ivory items as it’s so difficult to show that they’re legal. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/31 "2017-09-14T20:05:24Z")
My nephew said whne he was trying to get rid of my parents’ piano in New Jersey - originally, he expected to junk it. Moving a grand piano was a major piece of work; plus, he thought it would cost probably close to a thousand for the recipient to retune, necessary after a major move. Best case was to give it away to a local music school or something. Then he got the local piano store to come evaluate it, and got several thousand dollars for it and they would take care of moving it. Mind you, this thing was bought in the late 60’s or early 70’s, so I assume it was quality and was valuable. I suppose back in those days it would even possibly have real ivory keys? (Heard a story about someone who sent their piano to the restorer in the USA from Vancouver. When it reached the border, the customs inspectors stripped and destroyed the ivory off all the white keys. Apparently there are no exceptions to the zero tolerance for ivory trade at the border, not even for heirloom antiques) ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/32 "2017-09-14T23:43:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps you’re not seeing them on the curb because the piano movers take them directly to the transfer stations. That’s the fate of many older pianos according… As the owner of a moving company, I can attest to this happening frequently to the varieties of vertical pianos. I have also seen them burned in old cellar holes and detonated with Tannerite in a gravel pit. There are only so many worthy causes that can take or use a donated piano in a given area. We manage to re-home or re-purpose two or three to every one that goes to the landfill, though. We have never been party to the destruction of any length of grand, yet. Those always seem to find new owners. Of course, my anecdotal evidence comes only from people who are calling a licensed, insured moving company that is known in the area for moving high value items. If it’s just an old wreck that’s going to the dump, most people would likely do it themselves or hire some general laborers from Craigslist or similar. Many people, of course, do move their piano to their new residence. My most harrowing was a Steinway grand going into a third floor condo. That required hiring a crane and rigger, but went off without a hitch. I probably have two dozen pianos being stored in my warehouse at the moment, an equal mix of vertical and horizontal. If anyone is ever interested in getting a free piano, call a local moving company and ask them to keep you in mind. You will likely end up with one, delivered, with the cost borne by the person wanting to get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/33 "2017-09-14T23:50:57Z")
I want to sing this thread title to the tune of ‘where have all the flowers gone’. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/34 "2017-09-15T00:28:32Z")
A decade or so ago I got a free upright piano via classified ads (basically, if you haul it out for us, you can keep it). It was from the 1920s and looked and sounded ok. But when I had it tuned, the tuner said it would never sound note-perfect unless we replaced like all the strings and hammers and some other stuff, to the tune of $3000 or so. Well, I couldn’t afford that, so I just made do, and when I moved a year or so later, I left it in the house and bought a basic Roland digital piano (full size) for $1500. It’s ok. Since I’ve developed arthritis over the past few years and can’t really play classically anymore\*, I’m thinking of trading it in for a more fun synth of some sort. A vintage Vox Continental or one of those orchestral synths. Still miss the action on the crappy piano, though. \*not that I was ever awesome at that, but it was my overall leaning. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/35 "2017-09-15T19:07:20Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > I think some piano repair people collect them, but no one who wants to stay out of jail would collect them for use in new pianos. The restrictions aren’t just on imports - it’s basically not legal to sell piano keys or pianos containing ivory, much less manufacture new ones. To sell one it has to be at least 100 years old and can’t have been repaired with ivory since 1973 to be legal, so any piano that was made mid-century (in the baby boom years or later) won’t qualify, not will any that have been repaired in the last four decades. Nothing made with ivory today is legal to sell, period. I believe Ebay won’t even list ivory items as it’s so difficult to show that they’re legal. Interesting - didn’t know that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/36 "2017-09-15T19:16:19Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Interesting - didn’t know that. Thanks. No problem. Meant to include a link so here it is: [https://www.fws.gov/international/travel-and-trade/ivory-ban-questions-and-answers.html](https://www.fws.gov/international/travel-and-trade/ivory-ban-questions-and-answers.html) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/37 "2017-09-15T19:24:52Z")
Nobody wants old pianos anymore, there are too many people donating organs. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/38 "2017-09-15T21:49:37Z")
Public Piano Project! > **[Public Pianos Help HOP Celebrate 50 Years](https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2012-07-10/public-pianos-help-hop-celebrate-50-years)** > > Dartmouth’s Hopkins Center for the Arts turns 50-years old this summer. Instead of candles, the HOP is going with…pianos. For the month of July, 50… > **[Play Me, I’m Yours | Street Pianos](http://www.streetpianos.com/)** > > Touring internationally since 2008, “Play Me, I’m Yours” is an artwork by British artist Luke Jerram. Over 500 pianos have now been installed in cities across the globe, from New York to Sydney, bearing the simple instruction ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/39 "2017-09-15T22:52:12Z")
It’s too bad but the economics greatly favour digital pianos: for mid-range cost the keyboard action is just fine, sounds great, versatile, and… here it comes… Never Needs Tuning! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273/40 "2017-09-15T22:52:45Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Nobody wants old pianos anymore, there are too many people donating organs. I always feel bad when they do organ donation drives because all I have is a used flute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-the-old-pianos-go/796273.md?page=3)