Wednesday 22 October 2014

Bluthner Serial Nos.


Year
Serial No.
Year
Serial No.
1920
100000
1970
140000
1930
115000
1972
141000
1940
125500
1974
142000
1942
126000
1976
143000
1943
127000
1978
144000
1946
128000
1980
144900
1948
128200
1982
145600
1950
128800
1984
146400
1952
129400
1986
147200
1954
130100
1988
147800
1956
131000
1990
148200
1958
132000
1992
148600
1960
133006
1994
149000
1962
136000
1996
149400
1964
137000
1998
149800
1966
138000
2000
150200
1968
139000
2002
150600

These serial numbers can be used only as a reference point.
An Exact date does not make a material difference to an assessment of a piano - a year or so out 120 years ago really is neither here more there.

The idea that 100% accuracy for all piano makers over a century ago is an interesting thought - but considering that all record keeping would be hand-written and kept in large ledger books, inaccuracies are likely. These records will be as reliable as the clerks whose job it was to keep them. The digital age of barcodes and scanned labels was still in the realm of science fiction. So we have to be content with our best guess numbers.

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2 comments:

  1. Hi Steve,

    Did Bluthner not use serial numbers prior to 1920?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chris. Yes. Bluthner started making pianos in 1853.
      My starting the serial numbers from 1920 is somewhat arbitrary but these serial numbers are given as a help to fixing the age of a piano to within 2 to 5 years. With some makes, even this is not possible.
      If you have an older piano with an earlier serial number, I could let you know the best estimated year of manufacture.
      Cheers!

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