I had an interesting experience a few months ago.  I was called to tune a piano for a customer who had just inherited a grand piano from his father who had recently passed away.  While I was vacuuming and cleaning the soundboard, I discovered something under the cast iron plate at the rear of the piano.  I used my soundboard cleaning tool and did some pushing and maneuvering and finally extracted a very tarnished silver bar.  I kept working at it and eventually ended up with 6 silver bars, totaling over $1400.00 at today’s rates.

The owner was aware that his father had some silver, but hadn’t been able to find it anywhere.  I guess he thought the piano would be a great hiding place.  As it turned out, it was almost too good.  Anyway, I became an instant hero for finding the family treasure.  You’d be surprised at some of the things that I’ve found in pianos-some good, some not so good.  The most common findings include coins and pencils.  I will write a seperate entry about the lost matchbox car.  But the bottom line is - do not use a piano as a place to hide valuables!  Use a safety deposit box or get a safe!