Ask Me Help Desk - 1931 Francis Bacon baby grand piano

1931 Francis Bacon baby grand piano

I would like to know a price and/or history on a 1931 Francis Bacon baby grand piano.

I am a piano tuner/technician.

Are you the owner of the piano?

I hope that you return. I would like to help you! :) You might also find it interesting that I am now currently restoring a Francis Bacon upright piano for someone who lives a couple hundred miles away from me.

In the meantime, below is some history of Francis Bacon pianos.

What is quoted below, is from the following site:

The Ages and Historical Records of Pianos sold in America

Quote:

FRANCIS BACON

Francis Bacon pianos and player pianos were made by The Bacon Piano Co. W. P. Bacon, President. The history of this company, starting in 1789, is the history of the piano business in America. It received medals and diplomas for the excellence of its instruments wherever they have been exhibited, notably at the Philadelphia World's Fair in 1876, and at Chicago in 1908. This instrument enjoyed unusual favor with the trade and the musical public, and was regarded as one of the most versatile of all desirable instruments in the market. Francis Bacon pianos, player pianos, electric expression players, reproducing pianos (licensed under Welte-Mignon patents) and grands had a century and a quarter of experience and "know how" behind them and emphasize unusual value at moderate prices.

Concerning the price and/or value of the instrument, I would need to get some information from you.

I am leaving now to conduct a rehearsal. I will return here after 10:30 p.m. my time, tonight.

Yes, I do own this piano. You can email me at [email protected] for more info. Thank you for answering.

Krista:)

Why are you wanting to know the information about which you are asking, please?

I bought the piano from someone for $150 and had never heard of Francis Bacon pianos so I was curious to know the history and was thinking about insuring it if it was worth it.:)

Did you get my email to you?

No, I didn't.

Dear Krista,

Please check your Private Messages on this site, please. Just in case you don't know where they are, PM's are on your Profile page. Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristaschafer

I bought the piano from someone for $150 and had never heard of Francis Bacon pianos so I was curious to know the history and was thinking about insuring it if it was worth it.:)

I can tell you whether it's worth insuring. I just need to ask you some questions.

Ask away!

Okay! Thanks for the private message!

Is the piano in tune? And, has it been tuned on a regular basis?

I'm still here! :)

It isn't in tune now. The family I bought it from said it hadn't been tuned for about 2 years.

I am planning on having it tuned soon.

Okay, so I am assuming that it can be tuned. But, it is hard to really determine that without actually hearing it. Two years ago is not an ideal length of time between tunings, but it isn't all that long ago either.

Do you or someone else in your home play the piano? The reason that I'm asking is, if someone has played it since it was moved, do the pieces that are played on it sound reasonably good?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristaschafer

I am planning on having it tuned soon.

Good! :) :)

Yes, I play. The sound is great, all keys work. Just very out of tune.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristaschafer

Yes, I play. The sound is great, all keys work. Just very out of tune.

Good! I'm glad that you play!

Does it have all of the original parts that you can tell, as far as the strings and hammers?

The music I have played sounds really bad. Like I have the pedal held down, it all blends together.