Re: Mathushek Spinet

"Milhous" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> Arleen wrote:
>
> > I have searched the web for information regarding the quality and value
of a
> > Mathushek Spinet. I have managed to discover that it was made in the mid
> > 30's, and that the name is a name of quality, but that's about it. I've
> > found some references to grands, square grands, uprights, but very few
on
> > spinets.
> >
> > Can anyone here give me, or lead me to, any further information?
> >
> > aj
>
> In the 1930s the used piano market was flooded with large uprights that
had
> been produced in quantity 1900-1929 and were still in very good shape. The
> introduction of smaller pianos like the spinet was a successful marketing
ploy
> that literally saved the remaining piano manufacturers.
>
> These pianos were built with "looks" of primary importance, and musicality
> secondary. I'd guess, based on what I've seen of their larger pianos, that
a
> Mathushek spinet would be above average quality, but it's still a spinet
with
> tonal limitations thereof, and most likely needing some work at that age.
A
> technician will give you better idea of price; I wouldn't keep my hopes up
for
> anything above mid hundreds. Some of the cabinets on the 1930s models are
> pretty wild looking, and if yours has a distinctive case that may give it
some
> value.
>
> That's assuming this is a spinet and not what Mathushek called their
"Spinet
> Grand", a small square grand (with modern action) produced about 1937. I
don't
> know what those are worth, but they may have some novelty value.
>

Thanks. I discovered that I goofed and read the time chart of manufacturing
numbers wrong. It was actually built in the '50's. #86421. I saw a picture
of a spinet grand, but it had free space below the keyboard. I don't know
how to properly describe it. It looks like an upright without the tall top
part, just the bottom. If it didn't have the bottom, it would look like a
square grand, at least from the pictures I've been searching through.

aj