Wednesday 5 November 2014

Gors and Kallmann Serial Nos.


Year
Serial No.
Year
Serial No.
1908
40000
1928
65200
1909
41800
1929
65750
1910
44200
1930
66450
1911
46630
1931
66800
1912
49360
1932
67200
1913
52250
1933
67500
1914
55690
1934
68750
1915
57300
1935
69000
1917
58200
1940
74000
1918
58500
1945
77000
1919
58700
1950
79800
1920
59000
1957
80000
1921
60400
1958
80600
1922
60750
1960
82000
1923
61200
1970
83501
1924
61830
1973
85001
1925
42620
1974
85500
1926
63610
1976
86900
1927
64450
1980
88000

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.

Back to the Piano Atlas

2 comments:

  1. i've got a Gors & Kallmann upright with no; 20438 inside it top left hand side. anybody know more about this no?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello - Our Gors & Kalmann has serial number 201 - with a penciled reference under '1896 ?' - can anyone shed any light on how to reference year of production?

    ReplyDelete