Hobart M. Cable Upright Piano Value Guide

The Hobart M. Cable upright piano is a quintessential artifact of the American piano manufacturing boom, produced by the prolific Cable family of Chicago. These instruments are collectible for their historic role in bringing music to the early 20th-century middle class and their ornate dark wood cabinetry.

What affects the value of Hobart M. Cable Upright Piano?

• The structural integrity of the internal cast iron plate and the condition of the steel strings.
• The preservation of the dark wood finish and the presence of original decorative cabinet carvings.
• The functional state of the internal felt hammers and the overall playability of the action.
• Market demand for large upright pianos, which currently keeps values modest between $75 and $125.

How to Identify Hobart M. Cable Upright Piano?

• Locate the 'Hobart M. Cable' name cast into the iron plate or printed on the fallboard to distinguish it from other Cable family brands.
• Check for a dark wood cabinet and a full 88-note keyboard consistent with early 1900s American manufacturing.
• Verify the serial number inside the cabinet to confirm the production date falls within the 1905-1915 era.
• Examine the key surfaces to determine if they are original ivory or early ivorine synthetic material.

History of Hobart M. Cable Upright Piano

Hobart M. Cable was one of the numerous piano brands produced by the extensive Cable family of Chicago, Illinois, during the American piano manufacturing boom. Operating primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these instruments were mass-produced to meet the high demand of the burgeoning middle class, offering reliable quality and appealing cabinetry at an accessible price point, cementing their place in American domestic music history.