One-legged 'Bechstein' piano destined for the dumpster comes back to life after a little TLC

One-legged "Bechstein" piano destined for the dumpster transformed after a little TLC.
It was not tuned for probably 100 years+, after it was made in 1910.
The pedals and the music stand - missing, the lid - broken into several pieces, the hinges, the lock - gone. The poor piano was propped on cinder blocks in an old garage of the country house. It was also likely used as a workbench - with glue, paint and coffee spilled all over, even some names carved on it with a pocket knife.
The people who inherited the house tried to get rid of it for over half a year, advertising in classifieds. Customers came - and left in disgust, even as the asking price kept getting lower and lower.
... The piano was destined to the dumpster, to be broken apart for scrap metal. But the piano still had it soul. It spoke.
One just had to listen...
We saved the piano, brought it home, and gave it some serious elbow grease. As you see and hear it now - it's just a few tunings and general thorough washing with (you won't believe it, my "invention"!) micellar water.
All the cracks in the soundboard and pin block are still there. The hammers are old, although barely played. One hammer in the base was soaked through with sugared coffee - deep brown and hard as a rock, we gently soaked it out. New set of pedals was carved for it. The legs were glued together. The lid is still in pieces stacked against the wall. It could go the major - and expensive - restoration, to be made like new.
But at the same time - it sounds wonderfully sweet the way it is now.

[antoniousai]

It's insane how much of a consumeristic society we are if the normal reaction to finding a random vintage piano is "we should throw It" instead of checking how much it would cost to repair it.

[antoniomaccagnan]

Valentina is not only a marvellous artist but also a charismatic and inspiring person. That's why we love her so much.

[PeterRabbit]

I've played all my life, my teacher was a master, and I just love Ms. Valentina, having seen her several times. She never fails to juice up the piano hormones inside of me. Seeing her several times in Portland (left side, maybe 8 rows back) I was blessed to closely watch the fingers and bare arms as they did their trained magic, and adopt some of it.

Valentina, you are a world treasure, bless you. 🙏🎵💙

[rinda]

'Save Our Souls' applies not only to creatures but also to faithful things, including old pianos. Love the rescue story. Hardly dare to think about how it would have ended without you ....and the micellar water. Greetings from Timrå.

[vincentneale]

I have brough any a old piano back to life during my 40 years as a tuner repair restorer. I also get the first one to play them which I loved

[cafedehuerta]

Congratulations VALENTINA From Argentina: WE LOVE YOU

[iloveyoutube]

Its incredible how much soul a piano has.. It always feels bad to see them being abused or thrown out. And when given some care and motivation they can sing and perform again ! Its so wonderful to see.

[slowdog]

I love what you did. The story about the before made my eyes wet. But the after part gave me much joy and dried my eyes. Thank you for doiing this. It really is a good pinao worth saving.

[slentilus]

Ugh, she's alive and well! Love to see old pianos come back to life.

[confortti]

Perfect piano. With history, with soul. ❤

[Martial-Mat]

I LOVE this story. It's a metaphor for getting old in a loving community.

[richardg]

That's my girl, looking on the positive side, give it a chance to live again. Sounds to me like it is worth saving.

[Steinweg]

How Lovely! I possed a Bechstein model C arranged to move this to my flat with the company who moved everything else. so, it was two vans; they said it would be easy. They came with everything else, but told me they could not bring the piano upstairs, although they confirmed the job as 'easy'. They took it back to the company, then started charging me storage fees. I was too ill to argue, I had to give it to a friend. They even took the stools, I had a stroke, so would not have been able to play anyhow! Bechstein is a wonderful instrument, it gives back! I had thi all through my career!

[j.d.thompson]

Such a pretty voice. Much left to say!

[Gabriel-jxor]

That's very cool! Would've been nice to have both before and after recordings have the same level of audio quality for a more apples-to-apples comparison though...

[Krispy]

What a great story and the story is not over - what will become of this old glorious piano?

[Vdoom]

What a beautiful story to save this piano that was probably made by expert craftsmen, and it sounds great. I hope it finds a good home and lives for another 100 years. It's crazy that people were using it as a workbench. Such disrespect.

[winstonoboogie]

Apparently 1910 was good year for Bechstien. Sounds wonderful.

[kaleidoscopio]

It is quite a miracle 😮....Will you give concerts on this recuperated piano? 🤔

[murdo_mck]

How wonderful. The products of true craftsmen - fabrile - should be treasured and restored. Amazing the strings are not too rusted. The keys are so badly out of level, if that is not due to playing I hope it is not moths.