The TV show, "If Walls Could Talk," among other things, appraises home
items.  I was watching it recently when a 1918 Decker and Sons grand
piano (about 5'4", original good condition, standard case looked dull,
as though alligatored, but well maintained) was appraised.  It was not
any sort of a player piano.

The appraiser gave it a value of $10,000, and it's not even a "name"
piano!  I'd like to get hold of his customer list.  I can't get $8,000
for a restored Knabe Ampico -- and many can't sell a restored Steinway
Duo-Art grand for $10,000.

Inept appraiser?  Or can we really get a lot more money by gutting
the player action from the piano?

Craig Roothoff
Escondido, Calif.