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Entire Edinburgh Piano Company stock up for auction | Entire Edinburgh Piano Company stock up for auction |
(about 9 hours later) | |
One of the largest collections of pianos in Scotland is going under the hammer this weekend in Edinburgh. | One of the largest collections of pianos in Scotland is going under the hammer this weekend in Edinburgh. |
The Edinburgh Piano Company has supplied concert pianos to many musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti and Van Morrison. | |
The company's owner has decided to retire, prompting the sale of the entire stock. | The company's owner has decided to retire, prompting the sale of the entire stock. |
About 90 pianos, ranging from £300 to an estimated £35,000, will be available to buy on Sunday. | About 90 pianos, ranging from £300 to an estimated £35,000, will be available to buy on Sunday. |
The company was started up in the early 1980s by James Cameron, who came to the Scottish capital to study musical instrument technology. | The company was started up in the early 1980s by James Cameron, who came to the Scottish capital to study musical instrument technology. |
He began to buy and sell old pianos, often carrying them up and down the stairs from his basement flat. | He began to buy and sell old pianos, often carrying them up and down the stairs from his basement flat. |
The business moved premises, eventually occupying a former car showroom and warehouse in the city's Joppa Road area, where the sale is taking place on Sunday 14 February. | The business moved premises, eventually occupying a former car showroom and warehouse in the city's Joppa Road area, where the sale is taking place on Sunday 14 February. |
Mr Cameron, 73, said: "As I cleared my desk I came across a drawer full of backstage passes covering many years of hiring our pianos for concerts, events, festivals and theatres. | Mr Cameron, 73, said: "As I cleared my desk I came across a drawer full of backstage passes covering many years of hiring our pianos for concerts, events, festivals and theatres. |
"I remember Frank Sinatra at Ibrox Stadium back in 1990 when we provided a Bosendorfer Imperial grand, and then there was Pavarotti at the SECC with our Bosendorfer 275, and tours with Evelyn Glennie round the Highlands and Islands of Scotland with a little Steinway. | "I remember Frank Sinatra at Ibrox Stadium back in 1990 when we provided a Bosendorfer Imperial grand, and then there was Pavarotti at the SECC with our Bosendorfer 275, and tours with Evelyn Glennie round the Highlands and Islands of Scotland with a little Steinway. |
"I'm looking forward to retiring, I enjoyed the piano business very much for many years but there comes a time when you want to move on and do something else. | "I'm looking forward to retiring, I enjoyed the piano business very much for many years but there comes a time when you want to move on and do something else. |
"There's more or less 90 pianos left. We just kept the stock up and kept the business going and then finally I decided to retire. There was nobody else prepared to take on the business - it's a big commitment." | "There's more or less 90 pianos left. We just kept the stock up and kept the business going and then finally I decided to retire. There was nobody else prepared to take on the business - it's a big commitment." |
Sean McIlroy, director of specialist auctioneers Piano Auctions Limited, said: "For us, this is really different - it's going to be a very special sale. | Sean McIlroy, director of specialist auctioneers Piano Auctions Limited, said: "For us, this is really different - it's going to be a very special sale. |
"Normally, you wouldn't have a piano dealer retiring and selling his entire stock by auction. What we have got here is beginner pianos from £300 right the way up to professional instruments at £30,000 to £40,000. | "Normally, you wouldn't have a piano dealer retiring and selling his entire stock by auction. What we have got here is beginner pianos from £300 right the way up to professional instruments at £30,000 to £40,000. |
"There are many, many great makes here as well as everyday pianos for beginners, so there is something here for everyone. | "There are many, many great makes here as well as everyday pianos for beginners, so there is something here for everyone. |
"We've had interest from as far afield as China, America, Israel and across Europe, as well as piano dealers in the UK and a lot of private buyers looking for that perfect instrument for themselves." | "We've had interest from as far afield as China, America, Israel and across Europe, as well as piano dealers in the UK and a lot of private buyers looking for that perfect instrument for themselves." |
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