Turning a Steinway Grand into a desk?

[Greg Crawford]

I spoke with an older man the other day and he wants to turn an old Steinway Grand piano into a desk. He says it's one of the first made, and it's square, but not an upright (I haven't seen it yet). The man that gave him the idea had done several before, but he moved and can no longer be found. I've Googled the web and SMC, and found nothing about this topic or a square Steinway Grand.

I suggested he get it appraised for restoration, and he said he has had two people, including a concert piano tuner, tell him the thing is in such bad shape it wouldn't be worth it.

Does anyone out there have any info about doing this to a grand piano, or even info about a square grand piano?

Thanks.

[Chuck Saunders]

Square grands were never fine instruments. They were the attempt to have a piano that would fit into a room better. I would have no hesitation to convert this piano into a desk. Removing the piano from the box will be fairly easy, remove action, remove the wires and unbolt the frame. You now have an empty box.

[Lee DeRaud]

You now have an empty box.An empty box that's too tall to be a desk, and if you cut the legs down, too low to get your knees under.

Found this picture: http://www.ornatepianos.com/detail.html?piano_id=1217
The phrase that comes to mind is "early Addams family".

Maybe just use the lid and the legs to make a table?

[Jamie Buxton]

An empty box that's too tall to be a desk, and if you cut the legs down, too low to get your knees under.


While it is musical instrument, the keyboard is at a good desk height, right? So if the remodeling process also removes the front of the box -- the wall above the keyboard -- that should open up lots of room to put a desk surface in. Depending on the structure of the box, some other scheme might be required to hold the sides together after that front is removed.

[Doug Shepard]

Seems like it was somewhere here on SMC a while back where someone turned one into an armoire, cabinet, or something. But I cant find it.

[Lee DeRaud]

So if the remodeling process also removes the front of the box -- the wall above the keyboard -- that should open up lots of room to put a desk surface in.You mean put the actual desk surface under the lid, where the soundboard used to be? Most of it will be inaccessable without leaving the lid open much further than normal...with it closed, you just have that wide but shallow area vacated by the former keyboard. And if you're going to do surgery on the lid itself, the whole thing is going to look even odder than it does already. I guess you could remove the lid completely, but that leaves you with something that looks more like a casino craps table than a desk.

(I'm under the impression that the original point of the exercise was to end up with something that still looked more-or-less like the piano when not in use as a desk. IMHO, that dog won't hunt.)

[Greg Crawford]

Thanks for all the answers. It doesn't sound like he wants it to look like a piano ( I found some uprights that had been done that way). He does want the legs cut down, so the removal of the keyboard box sounds like what he would want. He also wants drawers in the sound box, so the lid would be the desktop.

At least it sounds possible, and that I wouldn't be destoying something that would be a valuable piece if restored. I'll look at it this week.

Thanks again everyone.

Greg

[David DeCristoforo]

Wow. This is a new one on me. I am not quite sure what to think about it but I did once turn a 59 Chrysler New Yorker into a planter so I might be able to help you with something like that if the need ever arises....

[Greg Crawford]

Wow David. I've seen a few cars planted, but never turned into a planter.

[Clara Koss]

i think that a piano as a desk is super interesting.... i would use it to put photos and a cool candelabra on it or plants by a great big window... i love the fact that you are preserving something old and that has great architecture... i would love to top it with a thick piece of glass so you can see the old keys and have the glass beveled...cutting down the legs is the hard part!!!! it sounds like a cool venture and i would love to see the end result photos!!!! good luck!!!!

[Lee DeRaud]

He does want the legs cut down, so the removal of the keyboard box sounds like what he would want. He also wants drawers in the sound box, so the lid would be the desktop.Ah, so the area formerly occupied by the keyboard becomes the kneehole? That could work. And having the lid bolted down as the desktop helps because it would give some structural integrity to the (butchered) sound box.

Sounds like the toughest part will be making the drawers look like they belong.

[J. Z. Guest]

Before you do any of this, get on the phone with or send a letter to Steinway.

I wouldn't necessarily take a piano tuner's word that it isn't worth it. They don't build or restore pianos, they just tune them.

I just read a book on the making of a Steinway concert grand. Steinway still has old world craftsmen in their factory in NYC. They have been known to buy back classic Steinways for their museum too.

[Greg Crawford]

Jeremy,

I was concerned about this as well. There have been two tuners, one does the pianos for the Houston Symphony, both say the same thing. It's not a concert grand, but more like an upright turned on it's side. I think the only value it might have as a piano would be the rarity. The problem is it's made at least two oceanic voyages with previous owners and suffered through several families with children that didn't care for it. From what I've found out so far, the cost of restoration would be more than the piano would ever be worth.

The couple wants to be able to pass the piano down to their daughter, but they want something that will be nice, and they're pretty sure this is the best way.

As soon as I can get some pictures and a model and/or serial number, I will get in touch with Steinway and make sure, though.

Thanks

[Jim O'Dell]

I went in and measured my wife's grand (not square) and then measured her desk. The piano at the top of the keys is 2" lower than her desk. Once you pull out the action (the part with the keys and hammers) you are going to drop another 2", give or take. I agree with Jeremy...take some good photos and talk/send them to Steinway. It may be more to rebuild than the normal person would want to tackle, but may be a drop in the bucket to the right person.
On the other hand, if the people don't want to part with it, and may not with the note that they want to pass it down to their daughter, then this conversion could be the way to go. But remember, this will always be an exceptionally heavy desk. It will always take extra to move it. Something that you would want to hire out to do, and piano movers would be the best at it. (It's amazing what 2 guys and a backboard can do with a huge grand!!) If they aren't opposed to keeping it a piano, look at the possibilities of gutting the piano workings, and sliding in an electric, full keyboard piano. My wife's electric is made by General Music, and is the model Pro2. It has a real piano feel when playing it. The case is about 2" wider on each side than the keys. If this would work, they could still have the furniture, and the piano. Actually, you could still raise the lid, cut down the side to flip down (kind of like a computer desk that hides the keyboard) and still have a desk at the right side!! Just some rambling thoughts. Jim.

[Duncan Potter]

I saw something like this on the web when I was researching an old piano that was left in our basement of our house when we bought it. Apparently it was too difficult to move.

IIRC, the keyboard and action (and presumably the strings and iron frame) were removed and the desk surface was placed at the desired height where the keyboard used to be. I think that cubbys and drawers were built into the body of the piano.

Be VERY careful when removing strings and the frame. The frame is under tremendous load when the strings are in place. I used a cold chisel to pop the strings, at the bridge point near the tuning posts. All the strings have to be removed before you unbolt the frame!

I ended up cutting up the piano and taking it to the dump. It was a sad job.

If it has ivory and ebony keys, salvage them. I was able to remove the ivory by soaking the keys in warm soapy water overnight, then sliding a razor knife blade underneath the edge of the ivory. It came right off easily. Initially the ivory was curled, but it flattened fine once it dried. I'm saving mine for inlay material.

[Clara Koss]

Before you do any of this, get on the phone with or send a letter to Steinway.

I wouldn't necessarily take a piano tuner's word that it isn't worth it. They don't build or restore pianos, they just tune them.

I just read a book on the making of a Steinway concert grand. Steinway still has old world craftsmen in their factory in NYC. They have been known to buy back classic Steinways for their museum too.
good advice

[Peter Quinn]

I'm thinking client (potential) wants a desk made from a junky old piano, as a wood worker you either:

A) Accept the job.
B) Decline the job.

I am not of the opinion that every thing old has intrinsic value because it has survived this long, or that things of which there are few are automatically scarce and there for valuable. A call to Steinway or a good Steinway dealer should verify the potential market value of this thing. If the value is high you may feel compelled to share this information with the client, who may or may not care.

My feeling is that the most valuable thing worth preserving may be some nicely carved legs and some old growth wood that is well seasoned. Its tough to offer specific design ideas or brain storm for them without more information and specific measurements and construction details of this things box. Sounds like there is enough wood and structure involved to do something.

I'd say if it piques your interest this is a project worth considering, its highly possible to recycle this thing into a desk (or a coffin?). I'd avoid passing judgement on the present owner regarding his disregard for its value as an instrument.

[Ray Knight]

The appraiser is generally correct. The late 1800's square pianos are nearly worthless as musical instruments, and nearly impossible to sell as antique furniture, some are more empire style and less ornate than the one pictured. There are a few which are still inj good condition and worth a bit, but most are not worth fixing. Now is there something special about this one that would make it worth keeping as a piano. Never hurts to check with Steinway, but factory restorations cost multiple of tens of thousands, occasionally even 6 figures. So if a family has one that always sat in a certain corner of a certain house and looks right there. Converting it to a desk is a wonderful idea. Storage back in to box (accessible by lifing the top), cubby holes nearer the front, writing surface roughly where the keys would have been, close it up when you are done paying the bills.
My wife runs the Howard Steamboat Museum here in Jeffersonville, Indiana. An historic home museum, honoring the ohio/Mississippie steamboat era, especially the Howard built boats. (Talk about steam bending, their steamer was the size of a house, 20 & 30' timbers pulled out by horse team, winched into flat forms). but back to the piano. The Howard had an early Steinway grand, that went through the flood of 1937, under or floating in water for 20 days. Steinway said it could not be restored for any money. The case was recently restored (satinwood), and is gorgeous, but still cost several thousand dollars. The works were shot.
The museum also owned a couple of early square pianos (but not Steinway), and they could not get rid of them. So make sure there is nothing special about this piano, and if not, have fun making a desk. Good luck and please post pictures. Ray

[Greg Crawford]

Jim,

Thanks for the electric piano idea. This may be a great way to go. I'm going to call them in a few minutes and let them know what all I've learned over the weekend.

Greg

[jeremy levine]

I keep thinking computer desk , with the keyboard where the um keyboard is.:D