Antique piano

Sun., Aug. 7, 2005

Larry Cox King Features Syndicate

Q: I have an instrument made by the Haines Piano Company in 1860. It has been in my house for at least 70 years, and I would now like to find someone to buy it. Can you help? — James, Rustburg, Va.

A: To be perfectly honest, there isn’t much demand for most older pianos. At recent auctions, I have seen several upright pianos in fairly good condition sell for less than $250. You might want to place an ad in a collector newspaper to see if there is any interest in the one you have. Antique Trader has classified ads that are reasonable and read by collectors throughout the country. To find out rates, contact the publication at 1-800-726-9966.

Q: I have a Victor calculating machine that appears to be quite early. Are there any collectors who might be interested? — Fern, Valencia, Calif.

A: Early calculators have become quite collectible in recent years. To find out more about the one you have, I suggest you contact the International Association of Calculator Collectors, P.O. Box 345, Tustin, CA 92781.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.