Did you ever wonder exactly when your piano was made? Would you like to know if the person selling you that piano is being true that it was bought new five years ago? Or maybe do you wonder if grandma's piano that has been handed down to you was really purchase when they were newlyweds, as the story goes? How Old is my Piano? As a piano tuner I have been asked this question over and over again. The good new is that in most cases, the date of manufacture can be determined, usually to the exact year. I think that there are basically three ways the pianos age can be accurately determined.
The first way is through some authenticating written material. This can be in the form of a purchase receipt that has been retained. Sometimes the date a piano was made is actually written inside the piano. Although it is not commonly found inside the piano, the date of manufacture can occasionally be found on the keys, action rails, or the hammers. They are sometimes scribbled by a forward looking factory craftsman aware of the opportunity to contribute to a legacy. Other times the date is stamped on parts as part of factory procedure. Patent dates cast directly into the plate and tuning dates penciled on the plate by piano tuners are really only clues to be used in conjunction with other methods.
A second method is professional inspection. An experienced piano technician can usually give a trustworthy estimate based on the cabinet style, the manufacturing materials used, manufacturing techniques common to a certain period, and somewhat wear and tear on the mechanical parts of the piano.
Lastly, there are trustworthy reference materials that can be used to look up the date of manufacturer according to the serial number of the specific piano in question. The serial number is most often located in the area of the tuning pins, usually stamped into the Pinblock. Alternatively, the serial number is stamped into the soundboard but, in truth, can actually be located almost anywhere on the piano. There are books that exist that can reliably give piano dates of manufacture listed by piano name and serial number for most manufacturers. One of the most popular ones is Pierces Piano Atlas. Piano tuners usually have this with them and the Atlas is often the means that piano tuning websites offering this service make a determination of age.
Robert G. Kelly has been in the business of servicing pianos in Harford County, Baltimore County, and Cecil County since 1980. Bob is a Registered Piano Technician member of the Piano Technicians Guild since 1988. This means he has passed a series of rigorous exams verifying skills in tuning, regulation, and repair.
Bob works full-time in the profession bringing quality workmanship with high integrity. He continues to provide reputable service at very reasonable prices to pianos in the homes, churches, and institutions of Harford, Northern Baltimore and Cecil Counties. He lives in Bel Air, Maryland. See http://www.kellypiano.com/ for more information.
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