Mcphail Upright Appraisal

Vintage McPhail Upright Piano

This is a vintage full-size upright acoustic piano manufactured by the McPhail Piano Company, an American maker established in Boston in 1837. Based on the cabinet design and cast-iron plate layout, this instrument likely dates to the late Victorian or early Edwardian era, approximately 1890 to 1915. The piano features a dark, possibly ebonized or mahogany wood case that shows significant environmental distress. The upper front board has been removed or is folded back to reveal the internal harp, which consists of a gold-painted cast-iron plate, copper-wound bass strings, and steel treble strings. The action appears to be a standard under-damper or over-damper system typical of the period. The keys exhibit typical yellowing consistent with aged ivory or early celluloid composites and appear slightly uneven. Physical condition is poor to fair; the exterior finish is heavily weathered with visible flaking, dust accumulation, and loss of luster. Significant restoration would be required for the pinblock and hammers to ensure musical playability. The cast-iron plate shows the characteristic ornate openings and structural ribbing associated with high-quality early 20th-century American piano manufacturing.