Pianos Under Restoration
Pianos under restoration include many famous makes and interesting pianos. Our storerooms are bursting with some of the most renowned makes of pianos as well at intermediate makes that need to be re-painted or restored. Due to the high cost of quality restoration, pianos that have been kept with that intention, are of excellent quality and/or rarity. We have listed one or two here, but please note, there are a great many more to come.  
The pianos are listed in this order: Intermediate Upright; Premier Upright and then Grand Pianos.
Please enquire if further details are required and, if necessary, we will photograph the piano you are interested in and e-mail the photo to you.
All pianos are guaranteed after restoration. All have modern style actions et cetera. No over damper pianos sold unless stated.
Contact Jacqueline for more details regarding monthly piano hire:
0823486131 or jacqueline@eshelbypianos.com
Contact Deon for all other queries:
0826753549 or deon@eshelbypianos.com

Intermediate Upright Pianos Under Restoration

We will be adding pianos which need to be painted or polished here soon.

Above and below are a few examples of pianos that we have hand-painted (they are also on the Piano Gallery page), if you would like us to paint a piano for you to hire.



Premier Upright Pianos Under Restoration

DE 799 Bechstein Upright Pianoforte with matching stool. Built in 1896, serial number 35393, case number R d 206 403, it is an overstrung, underdamper with a mahogany casing. This really is a special and rare piano – the only one that Eshelby Pianos has ever had and we endevour to conservatively restore it to retain its original personality and charm. The piano is an Arts and Crafts style of piano as designed by Walter Cave, English Architect and Interior Designer. Its case features sculptural candlesticks and ornate hinges; it has cabinet features and an ornate fretwork panel in a floral design behind its appealing music desk.

Sale price: R 109 000.00 (incl. VAT).

DE 744 Blüthner, Julius Upright Pianoforte and stool. Serial number 197746. This piano was manufactured in Leipzig, Germany.
On balance, a great Blüthner is certainly one of our very favourite pianos. The extreme quality is something to appreciate, just the way they fit together, the perfect quality of parts and materials and severe craftsmanship is amazing.
We always jump at an opportunity to buy one, however many older models have action designs no longer desirable to a serious pianist, so when one like this becomes available we are very keen buyers. This is a tall model Blüthner, its dimensions are: a height of 128 cm, width of 149 cm and a depth of 69 cm.
It is about to begin a restoration to include re-polishing the case to a high gloss black, fitting a new set of hammers and much more. It will fortunately retain its ivory keyboard, (85 keys) and the "back" requires no work, as everything is solid, currently without a single replacement part.
Price when done will be towards R 100 000.00 (incl. VAT). A bargain when one considers what similar quality and size uprights sell for, and when considering what an equivalent new piano would cost, that price is a complete under-evaluation. Please enquire on progress if interested.

DE 771 Grotrian Steinweg Upright Pianoforte and stool. Serial number: 77714. This Model 120 Grotrian Steinweg piano was manufactured in 1957, in Braunscweig, Germany, in one of the most famous and historic factories in the world. We were very excited to find this piano. They are extremely rare in South Africa, especially of this vintage. The piano is fitted with a walnut casing, with lovely classic details - such as the mouldings on the top panel and Queen Anne legs. This must always have been a very expensive piano.
Restoration will include re-polishing of the casework to a high gloss black finish (February 2020). The ivory keys will be lightly bleached and cleaned up and the action will get a major service. The piano shows very little wear, so no parts should need replacement, but only service.
Grotrian is widely regarded as one of the short-list of the best pianos in the world. They include some unique and unusual build features such as an x- shaped back-bracing to aid stability. The opportunity to purchase something like this over a cheaper new piano seems an obvious choice. This is the sort of instrument one buys to pass on in the family for decades to come.
This piano has 85 keys with the naturals in ivory, with a medium to heavier touch weight, and 2 pedals. The dimensions of this piano are a height of 120 cm, a width of 144 cm and a depth of 61.5 cm.
Sale price, after restoration, will be in the region of R 135 000.00.



DE 745 Steinway and Sons Upright Pianoforte and stool. Serial number 94163. 88 keys. 2 pedals.
Bought by us in Northcliff, Johannesburg.
The date on the metal frame shows it being cast on the 31st of December 1898.
This is a monumentally sized piano at 137 cm tall.
Flame mahogany casing.
The case has been slightly altered, the legs are incorrect, the top panel should have fluted pilasters and detail, the top should have mouldings.
These parts are unobtainable and will have to be manufactured using photographs of a correct piano as the template.
The action is in good condition however we are not happy with some of the details and materials so will be restoring it back to correct.
Fortunately, the ivory keys are in remarkably good condition and are all original.
We will not be re-polishing the case except for the replacement parts, as it retains a wonderful patina built up over 120 odd years.
The final sales price when completed will be in the vicinity of R 160 000.00.
Should anyone show interest pre-restoration we will happily discuss this at a much lower value.
Upright Steinways are rare. This will be a magnificent instrument with great potential and can be considered by any serious player and collector.
It will certainly have a story to tell.
Sale price: R 120 000.00 (incl. VAT).

JAE 425 Schiedmayer Upright Pianoforte with matching stool. Serial number 14973. This piano was manufactured in Stuttgard, Germany in the mid 1880’s. As yet unfinished, we are fitting new hammers to the action which will give this piano an unbelievable tone. The casing has been painted with Napoleonic blue, Annie Sloan chalk paint. Chalk paint reflects different shades of the colour in the light and seems so suitable for a piano with more detail in the structure, like this one. The chalk paint also developswell over time - as one can see in the photos, the flat blue (top right photo) has developed greater variation with more waxing (close up and front photo). We think candelabra are called for and with a few gold highlights this should truly be the Emperor's Piano. It is a mammoth piano at 136 cm tall, in true upright grand style – completely over the top. A wonderful piano of the highest quality. Schiedmayer is comparable to any of the top German makes of piano, costing an absolute fortune when made. It has 85 keys – with original ivory – and 2 pedals. This piano’s dimensions are a height of 136 cm, a width of 163 cm and a depth of 68 cm.
Hire price: launch charge of R 2 150.00 and monthly charge of R 750.00.
Sale price: R 55 000.00 (incl. VAT).



DE 796 Winkellmann (Zeitter and Winkellmann) Upright Pianoforte with stool.

This piano was built "c" 1918. A top quality instrument.

 The burr walnut casing has a very unusual inlay of Beethoven in the top panel.

Sale price: R 31 500.00 (incl. VAT).



Grand Pianos Under Restoration

DE 903 Challen Grand Pianoforte with stool. This piano has a mahogany casing. Challen is a very well-known and one of the best English makes of pianos. This particular one has interesting legs. The touch is extremely balanced and of medium weight, lighter than many grand actions - which can be considered fairly difficult to play unless by a trained pianist. It has original ivory keys in good condition and 2 pedals. The Challen piano is 155 cm in length and 149 cm at its widest point.
Hire price: launch charge of R 3250.00 and monthly charge of R 1500.00.
Sale price: R 75 000.00 (incl. VAT).



DE 916 Ibach Grand Pianoforte with stool. Seven foot grand with ebonised casing. “C”, 1895. Beautiful and rare.

Sale price: R 223 000.00 (incl. VAT).



DE 933 Schimmel Grand Pianoforte with stool. Schimmel is a very high quality make of piano. This style is the only one like it I have seen. With the symmetrical design and very minimalist appearance it's really a special piece which would obviously suit a modern home.
Hire price: launch price of R 3 950.00 and monthly charge of R 2450.00.



DE 915 Steinway and Sons Grand Pianoforte with stool. Model M, built in Hamburg in 1928, serial number 261 760. Mahogany casing. The Eshelby family have sold, serviced and maintained this piano over a period of 55 years, it giving stirling service in serious use, a great commendation for the brand if ever there was one! It is currently being restored back to it's original standard, hence the lack of a photo.
Sale price: R 354 000.00 (incl. VAT).



DE 939 Steinway and Sons Grand Pianoforte with stool. Serial number: 284962. This Model S-155 Steinway piano was manufactured in New York, in 1936 and has a mahogany casing. American Steinways have a particularly light feel in their case design, having less chunky square tapered legs on spade feet than German models and the squared off rather than rounded cheeks give a very clean look. We obtained the piano from a gentleman who inherited the family farm in the Northern Cape where it had been housed for as long as anyone could remember. It wasn't working properly and that with the difficult location probably explains the lack of use. This is a piano with an amazing tone, completely original in condition. We see no point in doing any major work; rather, we see great value in keeping it as original. The tone and feel of this piano is what Steinway felt it should be when it left the factory. The only major refurbishment we intend on doing is to re-polish the casing and original stool.  We would like to await a buyer who can choose their preferred re-polishing option as this is a blank canvas at this stage. It would also suit a black finish, but we are always considerate of the extra care taken in building pianos in a wood rather than painted finish. The ivory keys are in superb condition and the piano shows very little wear. The piano has 88 keys and 3 pedals. It is a wonderful thing

DE 944 Steinway Grand Pianoforte and stool. This magnificent Model D Concert Grand is 274 cm in length and 156 cm in width. This is the ‘pinnacle of concert grands’ in terms of quality with the additional grandeur of its refined details! We will be adding many more details about this piano as time allows.