You will need the serial number of the piano to determine age (click>>Where Is A Piano's Serial #?). There is however, much more that needs to be considered to accurately determine the value of a specific piano. We have a Brambach baby grand piano, serial number 30579. I am interested in learning when it was builrt and any additional info re: owners, sales, locations it has ben. Thanks, Richard Skorey.
Finding the Serial Number on Your Piano Pianos almost always have a serial number somewhere. They can be in unusual places and this page shows some of the places to find the serial number. Dates that are cast into the plate of a piano are dates when the company was founded and not dates for the particular piano. You are usually looking for a 5 or 6 digit number. Some piano have other numbers stamped on them that are used in the manufacturing process. Grand Pianos The most common place on a grand piano is stamped on the plate in the V shaped area between the tenor and the bass sections of the plate or at the treble end.
Sometimes the number is stamped in the soundboard under the strings. Kimball pianos sometimes have the serial number in a hard-to-find place stamped on the back edge of the keybed. This is looking from the tail end of the piano. Upright Pianos Uprights usually have the serial number stamped on the plate near the top of the piano or stamped in a window in the plate.
Good question! And a simple one to answer. First, a how-to on where to find the serial number of your piano. Upright pianos will have their serial numbers either painted onto the cast iron backplate, or stamped into the pinblock underneath. Serial numbers may also be found on the edges of the kickboard down below, sometimes on the edges of the fallboard (key cover) or sometimes on the underside of the top lid.
Grand and baby grand pianos will have their serial numbers on or under the plate, directly behind the music desk (stand), or sometimes on a soundboard label in the middle of the piano under the strings. Below is a helpful list of serial numbers from different manufacturers, and their corresponding years. ACKERMAN & LOWE 1907-4600 1908-5400 1911-8000 1912-9100 1909-6300 1910-7200 1913-21300 Jesse French Numbers 1904-1-1-1-1-1-108000 ACOUSTIGRANDE 1900-500 1907-4600 1901-800 1908-5400 1914-1030 1909-6300 1916-1900 1910-7200 1917-2500 1911-8000 1918-3000 1912-9100 1919-3600 1913-21300 ACROSONIC (Baldwin Uprights and Verticals, Classic, Ellington, Franke, Howard before 1959, Kremlin, Manuelo, Modello, Monarch, St. Regis, Sargent, Schroeder, Valley Gem and Winton).
All Baldwin Upright or Vertical Pianos – Does not include Hamilton Studios or Baldwin Grand Pianos. 1895-2000 1917-1-2-5- 9-14-9000 1918-1-2-5-10-15-1-2-6-10-15-1-2-6-10-15-1-3-6-11-15-1-3-6-11-15-1-3-7-11-15-1-3-7-12-15-1-3-7-12-15-1-3-7-12-15-1-3-7-13-15-2-4-8-13-15-2-4-8-13-15-2-4-8-13-15-2-4-8-14-15-2-4-9-14-15-2-5-9-14-15-2-5-9-14-1577266 AEOLIAN AEOLIAN/AEOLIAN – AMERICAN Est. 1903 – New York, N.Y. The manufacturing facilities at East Rochester was comprised of a series of separate and individual factories planned so that manufacturing of the various instruments was carried on in an entirely individual and distinct manner, and by separate organizations, each under direction of men who had been associated with each respective make for many years, thus preserving, unimpaired, the individual and distinctive qualities of each piano. Combined they made a great and powerful contribution to the art of music, for each of the great instruments they produced will continue providing magnificent music for generations to come.
Name brands built in East Rochester include Chickering & Sons, J & C Fischer, Wm. Knabe, Mason & Hamlin, and George Steck. Tremaine was a business genius who brought about the commercial exploitation of the piano player on a big scale. Tremaine’s father had built a successful small business making and cranked table-top-sized mechanical organs, a very popular item in homes in the late 1800’s.
He founded the “Aeolian Organ and Music Company” around 1888; the firm achieved considerable success with larger instruments and organs. His son took over in 1899 and immediately set about to apply his own business acumen to the company’s affairs. With the newly perfected “Pianola,’ he launched an aggressive advertising campaign which was entirely new to the stodgy piano business. With four page color advertisements (almost unheard of in that day) published in the popular magazines, he literally stunned the piano industry with the message that here, indeed, was the answer to everyone’s prayer for music in the home!
Tremaine and Pianola built an enormous business empire over the next thirty years. It wasn’t long after the turn of the century that it was deemed desirable to “miniaturize” the clumsy Pianola and other similar, instruments so that they could be built directly inside the pianos. Within a few short years, the push up”players disappeared from the scene. By this time everyone got into the act, and every piano maker so manufactured a player of some sort.
This name is known the world over in connection with musical instruments, It is applied to some of the various products of the Aeolian Company of New York which instruments of renown included the Duo Art Pianola, Weber Pianola, Steck Pianola, Wheelock Pianola, Stuyvesant Pianola, Steinway Duo Art Pianola, Stroud Pianola the Aeolian Orchestrelle and the Aeolian Pipe Organ; it also controlled the Meludee Music Co., Inc., and the Universal Music Co. 1903-1900 1904-3000 1905-5400 1906-9000 1907-98000 AEOLIAN-AMERICAN DIVISION OF AEOLIAN CORP. Piano lines controlled and manufactured by this Division listed alphabetically include Chickering & Sons, Wm.
Knabe & Co., Mason & Hamlin and Weber. The manufacturing facilities at East Rochester consist of over 250,000 sq.
Of space situated on over eight acres of land occupied and devoted exclusively to the manufacture of only pianos since 1906. Aeolian was one of America’s largest producers of grand pianos. Instruments made by Aeolian American Division enjoyed an unquestioned reputation throughout the world AEOLIAN – AMERICAN CORPORATION – Founded 1932 Aeolian – American was the consolidation of the American Piano Company, Aeolian Piano Company formerly Winter & Company, and Weber Piano Company. Factories were located at East Rochester N.Y., Worchester Ma. And Memphis, Tenn. Aeolian probably produced more instruments than any other company in the U.S. Founded as Heller & Co.
In 1899, later incorporated as Winter & Co. In 1903, the firm became affiliated with Sears Roebuck and Co. In 1941 William G. Heller, Henry R. Heller and associates acquired the Sears interest and devoted the production to defense work during World War II.
Faith in the industry and the conviction that the piano industry needed someone to keep the venerable manufacturers in operation, Aeolian has acquired companies which would not otherwise have survived. During 1960 the work force included only excellent craftsmen under the direction of people who had been associated with these fine makes for many years, thus preserving unimpaired the Individual and distinctive quality of each piano. The affiliation of the various houses that formed this large and powerful contributing force to the art of music, insures for each a wider scope for musical activity in that each of its units was of the highest quality in its grade, which had an extraordinary economy of production. This company’s purchasing power contributed immeasurably to the integrity and value of instruments that were made in the various Divisions.
Aeolian Corporation, which in 1982 owned over 40 registered brand names, the product of merger and acquisitions over the years combining 16 domestic piano producers and the largest Canadian producer. Recognition was given by the trade to the various Aeolian lines is the best evidence that Aeolian Corporation pianos manufactured in Memphis and East Rochester, fulfilled every requirement in grands, studios, spinets, consoles and players in a variety of scales and finishes, as well as case designs. Aeolian produced not only the concert and beginners piano, but also for the artist and leisure time musician.
Although production ceased in 1982 and 1985 there are countless thousands of Aeolian -American pianos still in use throughout America, in private homes, schools, churches and rental fleets. They were not always the most expensive, and some of their designs were, while aesthetically correct they weren’t always perfect, but they did and still do provide students with the perfect entry level piano ever made at a price that most families could afford. A B Chase Gabler Musette Aeolian Haines & Co. Normandie Armstrong Haines Bros. Pease Bent, George P.
Haines Pianette Bradbury Hallet & Davis Pianola Brewster Hardman Poole D.S. Buchanan Heller & Company Primatone Cable Holmer & Sons Restonic Cable, Fayette S.
Rudolph Carola Huntington Schneider, Chickering Ivers & Pond Schiller Conover – Cable Kingsbury George Steck Cook, J.B. Knabe Sterling Crown Kranich & Bach Sting Duo – Art Laffargue Stratford Elbridge Lindeman Stroud Ellsworth Marshall & Wendell Stuyvesant Emerson Mason & Hamlin Vose & Sons Euphona Mehlin & Sons R.
Waude, J & C. Fischer Melodigrand Weber Foster – Armstrong Mendelssohn Wheelock Franklin Henry F. Miller Wellington See individual names for numbers not listed. Aeolian distinguished itself as a piano maker, not merely an assembler. Aeolian plants produced pianos that were quality assured, one of the reasons that over the years many of the largest school systems in the United States have selected their pianos exclusively. In addition, broadcasting stations, colleges, music schools, universities, operas, and symphonies have countless Aeolian pianos in constant service, this was during the time that American Institutions purchased pianos on limited budgets, not as commercial endorsements or University and College Piano Sale locations.
IVERS & POND and AEOLIAN NUMBERS 1885-3000 1918-1-7000 1919-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-Discontinued POOLE & AEOLIAN NUMBERS 1900-1-1-1-1-1-1-167600. 1880- 1700 1929- -1-1- 5000 1937- -1-1- -1-1- -1-1-1-1-164200 AUTOTONE PLAYER PIANOS 1960-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1- N/A 1974-1-1-1- N/A 1975-1-1-1- N/A 1976-1-1-1-1-1-153100 BACON, FRANCIS 1950-4-5-6-7-5-5-6-7-5-5-6-7-5-6-6-7-5-6-6-7-5-6-7-795491 BAILEY 1901-1000 1909-9000 1916-2000 1910-1000 1917-3000 1911-4000 1912-5000 1913-6000 1914-7000 1915-29000 BALDWIN Pianos bearing this well known and an honorable name is the product of The Baldwin Piano and in the best sense of the word, instruments of the highest degree of excellence. The system or chain of scientific improvements of the Baldwin piano based on the law of acoustics, and known as the Baldwin acoustic system, which permitted the greatest conservation of tone, secures an artistic result of the highest quality, and has resulted in gaining for. It enjoys a leading position among the world’s artistic musical instruments. Baldwin is now owned by the Gibson Guitar Company.
Historically: The Baldwin piano has an individuality of the highest character. When it was exhibited at the International Exposition at Paris in 1900 it was honored with an award (The Grand Prix) which has never been bestowed on any, other American piano, and the highest honor ever received by any, piano made In America. The Baldwin pianos are made in most modem and perfectly equipped factories under ideal manufacturing conditions. At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St.
Louis, Mo., 1904, the Baldwin piano was again awarded the Grand Prize and still another Grand Prize was awarded the Baldwin pianos and Manualos at the Anglo-American Exposition, London, 1914. The “New York Tribune,” in commenting on the comprehensive display of the Baldwin Company at Paris, and the success of this piano and this house, said that they made a record that would never he forgot in the history of uprights, grands and reproducing pianos, the grands including the various sizes from concert grands to small grands for parlors.
In Rome, 1923, the Baldwin piano was awarded the Papal Medal and the House of Baldwin appointed “Purveyors to the Holy See.” The Baldwin piano is recognized as a universal favorite between the leading operatic artists and virtuosos of the pianoforte. The Baldwin Manualo is a unification of the most artistic piano with the most scientific players’ construction; in other words, it combines the highest artistic attainment in piano production with the most gratifying ability of performance. ACROSONIC Built by BALDWIN (Baldwin Uprights and Verticals, Classic, Ellington, Franke, Howard before 1959, Kremlin, Manuelo, Modello, Monarch, St. Regis, Sargent, Schroeder, Valley Gem and Winton).
All Baldwin Upright or Vertical Pianos – Does not include Hamilton Studios or Baldwin Grand Pianos. 1895-2000 1917-1-9000 1918-1-2-2-5-5- 19 9-14-15-1-2-6-10-15-1-2-6-10-15-1-3-6-11-15-1-3-6-11-15-1-3-7-11-15-1-3-7-12-15-1-3-7-12-15-1-3-7-12-15-1-3-7-13-15-2-4-8-13-15-2-4-8-13-15-2-4-8-13-15-2-4-8-14-1575075.
1914-2-4-9-14-15-2-5-9-14-15-2-5-9-14-1577266 BALDWIN GRAND PIANOS The Baldwin Grand Piano, designed, built and guaranteed by the Baldwin Company is used exclusively by the first rank of artists in all spheres of musical expression – pianists, composers, conductors, singers, instrumentalists – as well as the outstanding symphony orchestras around the world and in music festivals everywhere. Without reservation, from the nine-foot concert grand to the five feet, two inch grand, every Baldwin embodies the latest concepts of acoustical science and piano making, it is a precision engineered musical instrument of the highest degree of excellence. Any Baldwin made piano is worth the time. Money and energy to rebuild or refurbish. Following is a list of brand names that are in use or in development, by Gibson, since 2003: A. Chase, Aeolian, Ampico, Baldwin, Cable, Chickering, Ellington, Howard, Ivers & Pond, J & C Fischer, 1ranich & Bach, Monarch, Mozart, Pianola, Pianovelle, Sargent, and Wurlitzer. In 2004 Gibson acquired a piano factory in the Guangdong Province, of China.
In 2006 they purchased the Dongbei Piano Group, third-biggest Chinese piano maker. 1890-1100 1895-6000 1920-1-1-2-1-2-1-1-3-1-1-3-1-1-3-1-1-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-1-2-1-284228 Baldwin vertical pianos up to 42” tall 19 19 19 19 20 19 19 19 20 20 19 19 19 20 20 19 19 19 20 20 19 19 19 20 20 Baldwin vertical 248A Pro, 48” 1990-4-4-4-445623 Baldwin vertical pianos 44” tall and up: 6000, 5050, 248 (after 1993), 243 1984-3-4-4-4-4-3-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-486686 HAMILTON PIANO CO., Est. 1889, with factories at Chicago Heights, Ill.
Controlled by the Baldwin Piano Company. Gibson Guitars Guitars acquired the Hamilton name in 2001, when they purchased the Baldwin Piano Co. See Acrosonic or Baldwin for additional numbers. Serial numbers are for the first piano made in year shown. 1900-1-1-2-2-3-3-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-2-4-1-1-3-4-1-1-3-4-1-1-3-4-1-1-3-4-1-1-3-4-1-1-3-4-1-1-3-4-1-2-377078 BAY. 1914-3000 1918-8000 1922-4000 1919-9500 1923-5000 1920-6500 1921-23000 BECHSTEIN 1853-176 1959-1-1-1-8070 1960-1-1-1-1-1-186144 BECKER BROS. 1905-62600 BEHR BROS.
1908-5-5-6-7-5-5-6-7-5-6-6-767000 BENT, GEORGE P. 1900-98000 Bent George P. By Winter & Co. (Aeolian) 1960-3-3-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-452400 BJUR BROS. 1900-2-3-4-2-4-4-2-4-4-2-4-420000 Bjur Bros. Same serial numbers as Brambach by Kohler & Campbell after 1955. 1955-5-5-6-7-5-5-6-7-5-6-6-7-5-6-6-7-5-6-7-7-5-6-712000 BLUTHNER 1920-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-158000 BOND.
1960-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-6-3-4-7-640771 CABLE-NELSON Made by Everett to 1973 1950-2-2-3-4-2-2-3-4-2-3-3-4-2-3-3-4-2-3-3- N/A 1955-2-3-3- N/A 1956-2-3-4- N/A 1957-2-3-4-427000 CHASE,A.B. 1920-1-2-2-2-1-2-2-219300 JESSE FRENCH 1960-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-219000 GRAND-KINKAID by Marantz Superscope Pianocorder Player Pianos 1961-26600 GROTRIAN – STEINWEG 1900-1-1-1-1-144906 GULBRANSEN 1915-3-4-5-1-3-5-5-2-4-5-5-3-4-5-5-3-4-542000 HADDORF 1950-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-170100 HAINES BROTHERS 1900-1-1-1-109000 Verticals & Grands By Poole/Aeolian after 1960: 1965-9-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-221264 HAINES, W.P.
1964-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-9-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-221800 HALLET & DAVIS PIANO COMPANY Grands before 1960. Vertical & Grands after 1960 1901-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-1-5-1-2-5-1-2-510500 Verticals & Grands By Winter/Aeolian after 1960: 1960-3-3-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4-3-4-438000 HAMILTON. MONARCH BY BALDWIN 1900-9000 1930-2-2-2-2-2-3-1-2-2-302000 MUSETTE PLAYER PIANO 1934-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-3-3-4-1-3-3-4-1-3-3-4-1-3-4-4-1-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-420500 NELSON N.W.
1956-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-187000 PETROF 1900-5000 1950-2-3-8450 1960-2-3-1-3-3-1-3-3-2-3-440000 PIANOLA PLAYER PIANOS 1960-37000 PLAYTONE PLAYER PIANOS 1960-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-149900 POOLE PIANO COMPANY 1900-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-9-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-1-2-221500 PRICE & TEEPLE 1960-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-6-3-4-5-6-3-4-5-6-3-4-7-640771 PURCELL 1956-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-192000 SAMICK 1978-114390 SCHAEFFER 1900-77900 SCHAFER & SONS 1977-1-4-6-HG0089 1978-2-4-8-HG0190. 1979-3-380000 SCHILLER 1983-4-5-8-HIDG91 1988-HG0088 1992-HIDG92 1950-3-3-3-4-3-3-3-4-3-3-3-4-3-3-4-4-3-3-4-4-3-3-4-4-3-3-4-4-3-3-4-455200 SCHIMMEL 1900-3500 1950-9000 1951-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1-2-1-230000 SCHUMANN 1956-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-187000 SCHULTZ, M.
1907-3500 1913-1-1-71000 SEILER, ED. 1917-1-1-1-2-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-125200 SETTERGRIN, B.K. 1956-1-1-1-1-1-176000 SHONINGER 1962-1-1-1-1-1-1-37000 SOHMER 1900-1-2-1-1-2-1-1-2-1-1-2-1-1-2-1-1-2-1-1-2-1-198900 STARCK, P.A. 1960-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-219000 SOJIN 1982-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-142058 Grand pianos.
Serial numbers preceded by a G. 1983-32269 SOWARD 1956-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-192000 STECK GEORGE Est. 1857 New York, N.Y. 1925-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-194000 STEGLER BY SAMICK 1979-7-8-8-820000 SAMICK NUMBERS 1978-1-3-500000 STEINWAY & SONS 1900-3-4-4-1-3-4-4-1-3-4-4-1-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-4-5-2-3-4-5-3-4-4-5-3-4-4-5-3-4-4-521000 STERLING 1934-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-3-3-4-1-3-3-4-1-3-3-4-1-3-4-4-1-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-4-4-2-3-420500 STING PLAYER PIANOS 1977-5000 1979-7800 1981-6600 1980-9000 STORY & CLARK 1960-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-5-3-4-5-6-3-4-5-6-3-4-5-6-3-4-7-640771 VOSE & SONS 1900-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-193800 VOUGH 1956-1-1-1-191000 WALTER,Charles R. 1977-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-538440 WASHBURN 1948-2-2-2-3-2-2-3-322000 WEBER 1903-1-1-1-100432.