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.
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.
Back to the Piano Atlas
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteDid Bluthner not use serial numbers prior to 1920?
Thanks!
Hi Chris. Yes. Bluthner started making pianos in 1853.
DeleteMy 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!