On a small farm in Kent, southwest England, there is a treasure trove of 26 rare pianos, some of which are worth up to $83,000.

Above the door is a sign that reads: "By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen, conservators and restorers of pianos."

The pianos belong to Californian David Winston, who collected them over a lifetime working as a royal piano restorer.

The 71-year-old has worked on pianos that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, Frederic Chopin and Ludwig van Beethoven. And now he is auctioning off 25 of the pianos from his large collection.

The online bidding process will be on September 1 and is organized by the auction house Dreweatts.

But he told AFP there was one thing he regretted: "One of the things that does make me sad is that I can't pass this knowledge on… all the people I have always worked with, or I have had working for me, are a similar age as myself." 

Video editor: Pedro Duarte

(Cover image: Piano restorer David Winston next to one of his Pianos in Kent, England. /AFP/ Tolga Akmen)