i have recently gotten a piano as a gift from a friend and he said that the piano was worth alot of money..it is a HEINE special piano from sanfransisco dating back to the 1906 earthquake,..my friend told me that there were only 3 of its kind left after the earthquake and that it is very special,...i was wondering if anyone had any info they could give me? it would be much appreciated:)- thank you

-- carrie walsh (bluesgirl0@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001

Answers

I don't have an answer, but I also have a Heine special piano. My wife received it for a birthday gift about 20 years ago. We too are interested in finding out how much they cost. I don't have history on our piano, but I hope we can talk.

-- Victro and Trish Vera (shysty@sonic.net), June 04, 2002.

To narrow your search, I've discovered that the Heine is a player piano (also called a pianola).

Here's the player piano webring: http://www.player-care.com/the_ring.html

and the Pianola Institute: http://www.pianola-inst.ndirect.co.uk/

Adam's Pianola Page (with a lot of links): http://website.lineone.net/~agr/index2.html

-- Rosa Who Else (rosadebon@yahoo.com), June 07, 2002.

i too have recently been gifted my mother's piano which is a 1903 Heine piano and on my piano it is scripted san francisco and cincinnati, it was made by Trell Co., my piano guy who is restoring it for me looked it up in his piano almanac... i too would like to know more about my piano and where it has been and what happened to the company...

dianna mccormack diannad@intermind.net

-- Dianna McCormack (diannad@intermind.net), April 30, 2003.

I also have had a Heine Piano and want to sell it. I have had the piano myself for 20 years. It says San Francisco Cincinnati with dates 1893, 1895, 1897. I had it partially restored back when I first received it and the piano guy told me it was worth $2,000. I would imagine it is worth more now. I guess there are more than 3 left in this world!!!

-- Deborah B. (dbarry@apr.com), September 20, 2003.

Hello, I guess I have #3. A friend gave me the piano which has been in her family since it's org. purchase. I too am wondering what the value is. If you have any info on where I can find out it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Michelle

-- Michelle Bernal (itzme52@hotmail.com), December 23, 2003.

I don't have an answer, but I am trying to find information on a Heine piano also. My sister acquired one and is wondering if it is worth restoring or not. It is marked G.O. Heine and Company, San Francisco and has a number 16629. From what I have found so far it seems like these were player pianos, but this is one is not. I would appreciate any information that anyone could provide me with. Thanks,

Pat

-- Pat Scholtz (pats@inwave1.com), January 14, 2004.

I don't have an answer. I also received a G.O. Heine piano as a gift. The number is 10243. I am very interested in finding out about this piano. Can anyone out there help. I will pass on any info I get. Thank you

-- Katherene St. Germain (frenchkat2000@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.

I can't comment on the value of a HEINE piano, but I can provide some insight into its manufacture. The Heine Piano Company was founded by Gustave O. Heine (b. 7Jan1868 near Boizenburg, Germany; d. 23Apr1959 in Sunol CA). He was the brother of my great- grandmother. He was in business from the late 19th century until his death in 1959, after which his daughter (Ruth Heine Dahl) assumed ownership and operation of the company. I believe he manufactured pianos (i.e., sold pianos made by other manufacturers under his name) for a much shorter period, concentrating on retail sales in the 1920s and later. You can find a much fuller description of Gus and his life -- including his fascinating automobile, the Heine-Velox -- by putting "Heine-Velox" into Google and finding the Blackhawk Auto Museum site.

-- Tom High (hitzel@worldnet.att.net), March 15, 2004.

Maybe that earthquake wasn't so bad after all. I also have a Heine Special piano from San Francisco, #94102. It was in my house when I bought it. Although it has some water damage, my piano guy is going to do some restoration on it, but he did say the piano is worth restoring and will be a much better piano than a new one for the same expense. I would also like to get more info on these pianos, i.e. history, value, etc...Thanks

-- Jill Briggs (mtnjill@earthlink.net), July 09, 2004.

I am intrigued that someone should have a Heine Pianola with a date earlier than 1895 on it as Edwin Votey did not produce the first pianola until 1895 and they did not go into production until 1897. Perhaps the date refers only to the piano action and not to the automatic mechanism.

-- Alan Witherby (aj@witherby.net), July 09, 2004.