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"If you would like more information or to buy this Accordion..."

Oops! Make sure you get a piano, not an accordion!

Speaking of Collards, here's a funny looking one on ebay at the moment


Sadly, they don't fetch much either on eBay or within the trade.
£1400 for that grand isn't ridiculous though is it! But make sure you play it and love it before you buy it

Horribly modernised...dreadful to see such unsympathetic vandalism!

There seems to be two sides to this! The first (from my own point of view) is that these old instruments are an absolute nightmare to have to work on. By today's standards they simply can't cut it ! The only time I would consider getting involved would be if it were to be used by someone specifically for an "Early Music" type recital .... and that it had been properly restored and maintained.
However, the other side of the coin is that "it is a thing of beauty", and would grace some people's living room ... But beware ... anyone thinking that such examples can also be used as a serious instrument without ending up with a heap of broken parts and endless bills for repairs .... think again.
The old masters played on these and did a super job. The limitations of design still existed way back then, but at least everything was a great deal stronger when new, and could take greater punishment before breakage. Todays pianos are utterly different to way back then ... the old masters must be looking down on us thinking " if only I had one of those to play on !". Their compositions live on, and continue to thrill ... but the sound of those compositions, played on a modern concert grand, bears no resemblance to what was heard issuing from these old (and beautiful) pianos. By all means appreciate the workmanship, and be sentimental about beautiful old things, but as a tool for the pianist .... forget it !! GORGEOUS ...YES - Bargain NOOOOOOOO

I do understand your passion, and all the hard work you have put into backing up that passion PianoLove - However it is a fact of life that pianos of that age are totally different to what we are used to now, and their age make them extremely fragile even after restoration.
If one could build a brand spanking new piano exactly to the same specifications as way back then, then I would concede that it would be worth thinking about paying megga money to re-live the "early music" sounds of the pianoforte.
Thank goodness that there remain people like you to champion the early examples, and promote their contexual use within the bounds of the music they once produced. The masters of old did a fabulous job using these instruments ... but they were new (ish) then ... and today they are weak and fragile ( a bit like me ... I hear you say ) - Yes of course we should keep the very best examples, not only for the traditional early musicologists like your good self, but to remind people of who we are and where we've come from.
Where would we be if everyone took the same passionate stance .... 9 inch monochrome TVs, model T Fords, Stephensons Locomotion, Gas mantle lighting .... the list is endless! Unless the instrument is historically significant or in exceptional condition ..... really old pianos simply are not bargains ........ but very often do look gorgeous.

PianoLove : I think I'd better stop banging my head on this particular "brick wall" ..... You're just a wonderfully incurable romantic ........ I bet you look gorgeous wearing rose coloured glasses. Did you hear about the restoration of Emily Bronte's piano ? If not, and you're interested I'll PM you with the article.

PianoLove : I'll look out the whole article and PM it to you within the next couple of days .... but here's a picture of Emily's Cabinet upright to be going on with.

I agree that the sound of a Pleyel Piano has a special effect. I have 2 Pleyel Upright Pianos circa 1899 and 1876 and their sound really makes an evening special.