Vintage Kenmore Vacuum

Yup, Gulbransen player pianos are detested & vilified within the restoration hobby. Low grade pianos to begin with. They made their own player stacks and components of cheaper knotty wood and that's why they painted everything pale green. The stacks are built to never be taken apart. Unlike any other stack where boards are gasketed and screwed, the Gulbransen pneumatic reservoirs & feeders, and decks and windway boards must be sawn apart on a table saw and then that missing wood has to be replaced somehow to maintain the valve clearances. They cost about twice what a regular stack does to restore...for a piano that will never sound good anyway. Truly a dedicated one-man labour of love that will never be returned, they are charity cases and usually consigned to the fire.

But I would never pass up an Antique, Thrift or Junk store just because the prices are outrageous. It's like touring a car lot with no intention to buy - kills some pleasant time just kicking the tires and congratulating yourself on what you already drive or have at home in your collection...which you found cheap or free and fixed up yourself. And it's also good research for future finds.

I look but I also examine closely and if I detect that I can bring it back to life without Crevicetool-type intervention I'll consider the price. If it's too high and the guy won't deal then the only polite thing to do is withdraw gracefully...because maybe just maybe when you return 6 months or a year later and it's still there he'll throw it at you just to get rid of it. It has been known to happen, ya know and its happened to me. Never burn a bridge ya might wanna use later...
Dave


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Post# 63375 3/21/2009 at 18:51 (5,512 days old) by electroluxkirby ()
Checkrate/Likes I found a Kenmore tank vacuum in a little antique shop the other day. I kind of looked like this one in the pic. I decided to go in and ask about. The seller wanted $150.00 for it but get this--no hose, no attachments, doesn't know if it works, and wouldn't let me test it to see if the motor worked. My friend and I laughed at him, and asked if he was serious. He also had an Underwood manual typewriter in the window and wanted $100.00 for it. The typewriter was rusty, had a bunch jammed keys. I think the guy was on drugs or something. If I had my camera I would have taken pictures.

Post# 63376 , Reply# 1 3/21/2009 at 19:27 (5,512 days old) by brandon_w_t ()
Checkrate/Likes :P I can not go into antique stores anymore because of this. I saw an electronic organ for sale. a 1940s gulbransen spinet. (really low end organs) And because it was antique, it was $6,999. The organ was broke, missing keys, and was scratched up really badly. For that, I would burn it for $1.70. (1 gallon of gas) These will never fetch anything. Even free ones are hard to get rid of.

Post# 63377 , Reply# 2 3/21/2009 at 19:28 (5,512 days old) by brandon_w_t ()
Checkrate/Likes *price new* in 1945 the organ cost- drum roll! $399.

Post# 63379 , Reply# 3 3/21/2009 at 19:45 (5,512 days old) by methodistbill ()
Checkrate/Likes *Nothing by Gulbransen* is worth that price. Their pianos are terrible and hold a tune.

Post# 63381 , Reply# 4 3/21/2009 at 20:15 (5,512 days old) by brandon_w_t ()
Checkrate/Likes *dont?* Do you mean dont hold a tune? Gulbransen did have a large theatre organ, but even then, is not worth $6,000 anymore.

Post# 63383 , Reply# 5 3/21/2009 at 20:18 (5,512 days old) by methodistbill ()
Checkrate/Likes *Oops! Don't Hold a tune* That's right. They don't hold a tune. But then, everyplace I've ever played one was in a school or Sunday School room. Any piano will get abused in places like that. They have a lot of timber. Very bright.

Post# 63385 , Reply# 6 3/21/2009 at 20:22 (5,512 days old) by brandon_w_t ()
Checkrate/Likes Na I like my 1914 Krakauer and bros upright grand piano. It has more quality than the new $100,000 steinway at a local store. And Im not kidding you I payed $50. Its been totally restored. Refinished, new keys, new strings, and felts/ dampers. $50 piano has more tone and sound than a $100,000 7' steinway.

Post# 63386 , Reply# 7 3/21/2009 at 20:23 (5,512 days old) by brandon_w_t ()
Checkrate/Likes *opps* I meant- It has more quality sound tone, and bass/ treble than the steinway.

Post# 63387 , Reply# 8 3/21/2009 at 20:32 (5,512 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Yup, Gulbransen player pianos are detested & vilified within the restoration hobby. Low grade pianos to begin with. They made their own player stacks and components of cheaper knotty wood and that's why they painted everything pale green. The stacks are built to never be taken apart. Unlike any other stack where boards are gasketed and screwed, the Gulbransen pneumatic reservoirs & feeders, and decks and windway boards must be sawn apart on a table saw and then that missing wood has to be replaced somehow to maintain the valve clearances. They cost about twice what a regular stack does to restore...for a piano that will never sound good anyway. Truly a dedicated one-man labour of love that will never be returned, they are charity cases and usually consigned to the fire. But I would never pass up an Antique, Thrift or Junk store just because the prices are outrageous. It's like touring a car lot with no intention to buy - kills some pleasant time just kicking the tires and congratulating yourself on what you already drive or have at home in your collection...which you found cheap or free and fixed up yourself. And it's also good research for future finds. I look but I also examine closely and if I detect that I can bring it back to life without Crevicetool-type intervention I'll consider the price. If it's too high and the guy won't deal then the only polite thing to do is withdraw gracefully...because maybe just maybe when you return 6 months or a year later and it's still there he'll throw it at you just to get rid of it. It has been known to happen, ya know and its happened to me. Never burn a bridge ya might wanna use later... Dave

Post# 63429 , Reply# 9 3/22/2009 at 00:01 (5,512 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)
Checkrate/Likes *Here's What One Of Those Kenmores* Looks like in the flesh. This one is in great shape. Front shot. That's the original hose!

Post# 63430 , Reply# 10 3/22/2009 at 00:03 (5,512 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)
Checkrate/Likes *Rear Shot* Love the colors.

Post# 63431 , Reply# 11 3/22/2009 at 00:03 (5,512 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)
Checkrate/Likes *Here's Her* Younger sister.

Post# 63458 , Reply# 12 3/22/2009 at 09:42 (5,511 days old) by brandon_w_t ()
Checkrate/Likes *neat* I have to say, it is one of the coolest looking vacuum cleaners. But far overpriced if it does not come with anything.

Post# 63507 , Reply# 13 3/22/2009 at 17:57 (5,511 days old) by electroluxkirby ()
Checkrate/Likes I'm going to see my friend again this week. I'm going to take digital camera with me this time, and see if I can get a picture of the vacuum for this group and a picture of the typewriter for my typewriter group.