A once-lovely piano left to rot

@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
August 16, 2022 8:07am CST
In a paddock near the house where we are house-sitting is this old piano. Apparently, it was with a lot of items at an auction but, because it didn’t work, no-one wanted it. Our host went back next day and picked it up and put it in his paddock. It has weathered badly of course but a couple of the keys still work. It is a German brand and would have been somebody’s pride and joy in its time. It seems such a shame for a piano to come to such an end.
35 people like this
39 responses
@DaddyEvil (174528)
• United States
16 Aug 22
I understand, but if it didn't work and would take too much money to restore to working condition, I can see why nobody wanted it. When Pretty and I were moving into this house from the one we'd lived in for over 22 years, we had way too much furniture for this smaller house. A lot of our extra things we donated to one of the thrift stores here in our city. If one of our friends asked about something we didn't have room for in the new house, we offered it to them free of charge. Our next-door neighbors had asked about a decent looking but older computer desk that we were going to donate to the thrift store, so we offered it to them. The seemed really happy to get it. A few days after we finished moving, Pretty and I drove past our old house and saw the computer desk sitting out on their lawn in the middle of a rain storm. The desk is still sitting in the middle of their yard, falling apart. Why do you think they wanted it if they weren't going to use it for something? If we'd donated it to the thrift store, somebody that needed a good computer desk could have bought it cheaply instead. People do things that don't make much sense to me.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51831)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Aug 22
Maybe it didn't fit in their place, either.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51831)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Aug 22
@DaddyEvil They thought it would? Who knows?
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174528)
• United States
16 Aug 22
@BarBaraPrz Then why ask for it?
2 people like this
• India
16 Aug 22
It feels bad to see it in this condition but everything has its expiry date
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
Yes, that's true and apparently it was beyond repiar.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51831)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Aug 22
Yes, a shame. I always wanted a piano.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
Once, they were a very expensive item. And they still are.
1 person likes this
• Midland, Michigan
16 Aug 22
It's too bad he put it in his paddock that seems a bit silly to me.
2 people like this
• Midland, Michigan
19 Aug 22
@JudyEv is it was already beyond repair it's odd that he even wanted it. Or did you mean beyond repair for getting any music or of it? I thought it could have worked as a place to display things had it been out into the house.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 22
@MarshaMusselman It was offered for free and no-one wanted it. I guess maybe people didn't think about making it into a storage cabinet of some sort. There wouldn't be much room for it in this house.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It was beyond repair before he picked it up. But a bit strange to put it in a paddock.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222534)
• United States
16 Aug 22
I had a piano at one time. When we moved I wanted to sell it; but no one wanted it. I couldn't even give it away. When the trash haulers came to empty out the house, it went into the trash. Such a shame.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It's a great shame that you weren't able to even give it away. I guess they are heavy and awkward and take up quite a bit of space.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
@LindaOHio In years gone by, people would have given their eye-teeth for one. I guess many prefer electric pianos now although i can't think why.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222534)
• United States
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv Mine was an apartment size piano. I can't believe no one wanted it.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
16 Aug 22
It appears that the piano is really in a bad shape. Wonder why the owner didn't take good care of it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
I don't know where it came from but maybe it came from a country hall and there was no-one to claim it or look after it.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208996)
• United States
16 Aug 22
That is a shame.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208996)
• United States
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv yeah... How long are you going to be housesitting?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It's a great shame but too late to resurrect it now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
@snowy22315 We have a fortnight here then a total of about 4 1/2 weeks in two sessions at another place.
@rebelann (117244)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Aug 22
What a shame. I can't even imagine how expensive it must have been in it's time. Too bad no one tried to call the manufacturer to see if they'd be interested in this relic.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117244)
• El Paso, Texas
17 Aug 22
I imagine whoever left it there in the first place had no clue as to it's value.
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It's very sad as it's a good make. Heaven knows how old it is. I couldn't find a serial number.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
@rebelann When our friend picked it up, it was due to go to the rubbish tip. It was worth nothing at that point.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
17 Aug 22
Oh no! That is a shame! For sure this item has lots of memories but was left to rot.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv yeah. It could have been preserved.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It's so sad that it's rotting away like this.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56307)
• Canada
17 Aug 22
Its too bad that he didn't construct a little covering for it. There is a piano out in a park in a suburb of our city, its under an awning in a park. It gets used alot.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56307)
• Canada
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv It looks that way, such a shame. We had a very old upright piano in our home when we moved into it years ago. Our son showed no interest in taking up the piano, and although I can play, that piano was in very poor shape, missing some keys and quite an eyesore. My hubs and I decided to dismantle it. By doing so, we were able to repurpose some of the pieces on it. As a whole it would have been quite a restoration project, but we managed to find people willing to take parts, the front for a shelf, and other pieces, to refinish and use in their own home. We felt good about dismantling it that way knowing it would live on in many different homes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
@Juliaacv That was a good outcome really under the circumstances.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
This one I think was beyond using - and it certainly is now.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
17 Aug 22
Really sad indeed. It's better to sell or donate musical instruments before they rot like that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
They couldn't sell it or even give it away. It would have gone on the rubbish tip.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv That's very sad when you have to let valuable musical instrument to rot like that.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
17 Aug 22
Yes, ...if your friend knows how to repair it, wonderful. But since piano is out in the open, I wonder though.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It was unrepairable before our friend picked it up. It is certainly beyond redemption now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
@oahuwriter That would have been a possibility at one point but it's far gone now for that.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv The wood for piano is very ornate! Maybe the wood can be transformed into, say, a jewlry box?
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Aug 22
Kind of sad seeing it just sitting there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
That's what I thought too. It's very sad that this is the end stage for it.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv All things must pass eventually.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Aug 22
That is SO sad. I've seen some really lovely things done with old, non working pianos. One lady made a nice little coffee bar. By now the wood must be in very bad shape. I'm not sure it could even be repurposed. What a shame.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
I've seen them made into bars too and they look great. It's too late for this one, more's the pity.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
@Mysticpizza Very little was wasted in my time too and yes, recycling/repurposing does seem to be coming back.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv I agree. Such a pretty piece. Some people can't see the potential. I grew up in a time when things were made to work for a lifetime and we fixed anything broken or reused it. I'm happy to see people turning back to recycling, reusing or repurposing.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
16 Aug 22
Oh dear what a shame no one claimed it. Or at least put it indoors somewhere.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv Yes they will probably
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It's sad that it is out in the weather. I guess one day there will just be the metal bits left.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
16 Aug 22
What a sad view, this was surely a nice piano in the past.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv It is a shame to see this piano in those pitiful conditions.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It would have been somebody's pride and joy once.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
16 Aug 22
That’s very sad.. It must have been a beauty.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
I'm sure it was very treasured in its heyday.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv I’m sure.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
20 Aug 22
It looks so lonely sitting there!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Aug 22
It's very sad but it's too far gone now for anything to save it.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Aug 22
My mother had an old piano in the living room. All us girls learned to play, on that old piano. Eventually, all the insides were worn out, it was basically junk. My sister got rid of it, the sound was awful.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
They don't last forever, especially if they are not tuned regularly.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Aug 22
@JudyEv Those inside parts wear out. Mom's piano wouldn't hold a proper tuning.
1 person likes this
17 Aug 22
the condition of the piano is bad. But if it can be repaired it can be played and it is such a brilliant musical instrument
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Aug 22
It is too late to repair this one. It's a great shame that it is now in such bad condition.
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv thanks Judy I play the synthesizer at home
1 person likes this