The Weber Piano Company was a piano manufacturing company based in New York City and East Rochester, New York from the middle of the 19th century through the beginning of the 20th century, and continued as a division of Aeolian-American at East Rochester, New York until 1985, when Aeolian went out of business.^[1][2] The Weber name was then sold to Korean piano company Young Chang, which in turn sold the Weber name to Samsung Group in 1987.^[2] Young Chang remains responsible for manufacturing the pianos, which are sold in two product lines: Weber, with entry-level and mid-level pianos, and Albert Weber, with higher-level products.^[3][4]

For more information, you might want to refer to the book 'Pierce Piano Atlas' (check your local libraries or buy it online - at Amazon.com, for example). 'Often referred to as the 'Bible of the Piano business,' Pierce Piano Atlas 12th Edition providing ready reference, to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, and other. In 1932, Weber associated with Eolian Co. Signing a contract with the company that oversees the manufacture of over twenty piano brands. In 1987, Young Chang acquired the company and still continues the legacy of producing one of the finest pianos in the world.

• 1History
  • 1.1Weber Piano Company under Albert Weber Sr.
  • 1.2Weber Piano Company under Albert Weber Jr.
• 2Weber Pianos Today
  • 2.1Weber Piano Models

History[edit]

Weber Piano Company under Albert Weber Sr.[edit]

The Weber Piano Company was founded in 1852 by Albert Weber (born: 8 July 1829, Heiligenstadt, Bavaria;^[5] died: 25 June 1879, New York).^[1][6] Weber emigrated to the United States at the age of 16, and while his first intent was to support himself by teaching music and playing the organ,^[5] he soon was employed first as an apprentice of Charles J. Holder, a piano builder, and then as a piano builder by the D.J. Van Winkle piano company.^[1] During this time, Weber supplemented his income by giving music lessons in the evenings, and by playing the organ in churches on Sundays.^[6] In 1851, he set up a small piano business on West Broadway and White Street, in Manhattan.^[5][7] On October 1, 1851, Weber completed his first piano, working with two assistants, and by the beginning of 1852, they had completed five additional pianos.^[1] In 1852, Weber moved to a larger facility at 103 W. Broadway & 28 Jones Street.^[8]

A fire destroyed Weber's Broadway workshop in 1854, but Weber stayed in the Manhattan area, moving to 103rd & 105 W. Broadway, and later to 155 W. Broadway.^[8] By 1864 Weber had achieved some success with the then-popular 'square grand piano',^[1] and opened a larger factory nearby at 41 Wooster Street in Manhattan, and later expanded that facility several times.^[8] Between 1864 and 1869, Weber's pianos became popular in New York music circles.^[5] In 1869, Weber opened a large, luxurious showroom on 108 Fifth Avenue and 16th street in New York City.^[1] This was seen as a bold move by Weber's larger competitors, but it paid off, establishing the Weber brand as a premium product in the mind of customers.^[6] This new location became a 'rendezvous of musical people' and Weber became wealthy.^[5] Weber's products were arguably some of the highest-quality pianos of their day, famous for fine materials and exacting attention to detail.^[1] Lacking a background in piano construction, Weber focused on proven methods of piano construction as opposed to innovative new ideas.^[9] Weber's pianos were also some of the most expensive of the day - the price of a Rococo Weber Grand Piano in 1874 was $1,400, approximately the cost of a large mansion.^[10]

As Weber's business grew, his pianos received recognition. The company received medals at the Philadelphia Worlds Fair (1876), the London World's Fair (1887) and the Paris World's Fair (1889).^[10] Weber also advertised his pianos aggressively, and is believed to have coined the term 'Baby Grand' to describe a small grand piano.^[11] Weber was described as a skilled pianist, with genuine enthusiasm for music.^[12] He was well-educated and well-read, and was described as 'a keen observer of men and things, [and] a most interesting entertainer'.^[12] Weber was also a socialite, founding the Arcadian Club in New York, as well as being a member of the Manhattan Club, the Palette Club, the Arion Society, and the Liederkranz Society.^[5][13]

Albert Weber died relatively young, at the age of 50.^[1] Like many creative professionals, Weber was highly passionate about his work; however, this came at a cost to his health.^[1] He worked long hours, and also attended opera, theaters, and clubs at night.^[14] Described as having a 'Bohemian' temperament, it may be that Weber's health failed due to his hard work and restlessness, or it may that he taxed his body with various vices such as smoking and drinking.^[6] According to his obituary, he was ill for nearly a year before he died, with the final nine weeks being serious enough to cause him to withdraw from his business.^[5]

At the time of his death, Weber lived at No. 32 West Nineteenth Street in New York, and his remains were interred at Green-Wood Cemetery.^[13] Weber's funeral was attended by over 300 employees, friends, and family.^[13] Weber's fortune, estimated at over $1 million^[15] (about $24 million in 2012 dollars),^[16] provided a comfortable living for his widow, Martha Weber (Maiden name: Martha Woodward), and his three children, Albert Weber Jr., Martha Weber, and Robina Weber.^[17]

Less than a year after Weber's death, however, a suit was brought against the estate by an alleged illegitimate child - Miss Josephine Todd - who claimed that she was Weber's daughter and that he had supported her throughout her life and had promised to name her in his will.^[15] Miss Todd asked for a settlement of $30,000^[15] (about $702,983 in 2012 dollars.)^[16] The jury found in favor of Miss Todd, and a New York State appeals court affirmed the judgement for a total of $10,868 with interest from the time of Weber's death.^[18]

Competition with Steinway & Sons[edit]

Steinway & Sons, arguably one of today's most recognized piano manufacturers, was founded by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg in 1853, only a few years after Albert Weber founded his company.^[19]

The two businesses have many similarities. Both companies were founded by German immigrants, both started building primarily square pianos, both focused largely on high-quality, top-of-the-line instruments, and both companies were based in the lucrative piano market of New York City.^[19] During the latter half of the nineteenth century, Steinway and Weber competed closely.^[20] For example, in a New York Times piano buying guide in 1874 (which was possibly a paid advertisement), Steinway and Weber are the top two brands with the longest paragraphs.^[21] The article also includes other high-quality piano makers of the day, including Chickering, Knabe, and Decker Bros.^[21]

One example of Weber's ongoing feud with Steinway comes to light in the piano industry's attempts to reign in unauthorized, counterfeit pianos. By 1876, the piano was a popular home entertainment device, with sixty to seventy thousand pianos and organs being manufactured and sold in the United States per year.^[22] Many strong brands were established, and despite the protection of trademarks, many counterfeit pianos were also being produced with low-quality materials and sold at a deep discount.^[22]

In an attempt to curtail the trade in counterfeit pianos, representatives of sixty-five piano and organ manufacturers^[23] met to form the Piano, Organ, and Music Trade Association of New York on January 31, 1876.^[22] When voting for the directors of this group, an upset occurred when Joseph P. Hale and Albert Weber were elected as leaders.^[22] Albert Weber later wrote that all sixty-five firms voted openly, and the results were counted openly, but 'the men who expected to get elected did not get votes enough!'^[23] Weber, an admirer of the American system of social mobility that had allowed him to rise so far in society, quipped: 'The poorest is as much entitled to an office as the richest, if he gets the votes.^[23]

The election of Weber and Hale offended some of the largest piano and organ makers of the day, who sought to control this industry group.^[22] The representatives of Chickering, Decker, Mason & Hamlin, Steinway & Sons and some smaller piano and organ makers resigned from the group, forming their own Piano-forte and Organ Manufacturers' and Dealers' Protective Association of New-York.^[22]

The likely cause of the upset was that, with sixty-five companies present, the smaller piano companies controlled the majority of the votes and voted for those that they believed would represent the interests of smaller companies. Weber was seen as an upstart success story - someone who had risen rapidly from a sole proprietorship to one of the most prominent piano makers in New York, with lavish showrooms on Fifth Avenue and prominent endorsements.^[6] As far as Joseph P. Hale, he too had traveled a similar path, but focused on production efficiency and assembly-line work methods.^[24] His bold new ideas made him rich, made the piano more affordable for the middle class, and made him strongly disliked by his competitors.^[24] Both Weber and Hale could therefore be seen as credible threats to the larger and more established companies like Steinway.

Weber, ever bold, did not believe that protection of an industry group was even necessary at all (even though he was elected to lead it), writing:

'About a month ago a society was projected. I did not believe in it. I had fought my way up to the top, felt secure in my position, and believed that each manufacturer would accomplish more by being untrammeled.... The name 'Webber', with two 'bs,' 'Weber & Co.' 'Weber Scale,' had appeared on a number of bogus pianos, but I did not whine about it or hire a scurilous publication... to tell the world my griefs, as they did.... I found the place where the bogus 'Webber' instruments were made, and put a stop to the work. Those of the bogus makers who proved obstinate I handed over to my attorneys... who speedily procured an injunction on the work and recovered judgement. The same law protects my neighbors' rights, and will act as effectually in their case as it did in mine.'^[23]

Although Weber's boldness had benefited him, and allowed him to win many battles, Steinway & Sons ultimately won the war.^[20] Unlike Steinway, Weber focused his efforts on refining quality, materials and worksmanship rather than technological innovation.^[1][20] The key difference between the two founders (Albert Weber and Heinrich Steinweg) was that Weber had trained and studied as a pianist, and not as a businessman or piano builder. Steinweg, on the other hand, worked and trained primarily as a builder of a variety of instruments and not as a musician.^[25] As a builder first and foremost, Steinweg, and later his family members, discovered many technological innovations in piano construction and design that helped them versus against other piano builders.^[19][25] Further, Steinweg was better able to delegate control of his burgeoning empire to his family members,^[19] while Weber struggled with micro-management and had difficulty stepping back from the minutiae of day-to-day operations.^[1]

Weber Company's position against Steinway & Sons further weakened with Weber's relatively early death at the age of only 50. While Weber outlived his rival, his family was smaller and far less prolific than the Steinway family, and due to his tendency toward micro-management, Weber's death was a large loss to the company.^[6] Unlike Steinweg, Albert Weber's heir was a poor reflection of the original, and did damage to the Weber name.^[26]

Weber Piano Company under Albert Weber Jr.[edit]

In 1879, Albert Weber Jr. (born: 1858; died: 1908) succeeded his father as the head of Weber Piano Company after his father's death.^[1][27] Although Weber took control of the company at the age of only 21, his father had provided a formal education as well as training in piano-making.^[7]

Steeped in the piano industry from an early age, Weber Jr. became a skilled businessman, and continued improving production techniques and designs.^[7] Under his leadership, the company established the first Weber showroom in Chicago in 1880, and built a larger version in 1883, the Weber Concert Hall.^[1] In 1890, Weber again expanded in Chicago, opening a large showroom at 248 Wabash Avenue.^[7] Throughout the 1880s, Weber continued to expand in the American South and West, and in 1887, Weber opened a factory in England.^[7]

In 1867, during Albert Weber Sr.'s management, the company established a large factory located at 119 7th Avenue & 17th Street, about two blocks away from the company's main showroom on 5th Avenue and 16th Street.^[8] By 1890, under the management of Albert Weber Jr., this factory had expanded to a street frontage of 400 feet, a depth of 40 feet, and six stories in height.^[28]

However, having grown up in wealth, Albert Weber Jr. did not quite measure up to his father's savvy business management or personal skills. He incurred many debts, having personal financial troubles as early as 1883^[26] that required his father's estate to provide the funds to rescue him.^[29] Weber incurred these debts due to his 'playboy' style of living as a socialite and 'well-known man about town'^[30] by spending money on women, gambling, and speculative investments.^[26][31] In 1883, Weber Jr. was even accused by his creditors of having pianos removed from his Fifth Avenue showrooms and stored in other locations around the city in order to 'cheat and defraud his creditors'.^[26]

According to one documented court proceeding in 1894, where Weber Jr. was being prosecuted for failing to pay a debt of $300 despite a large salary and having received $50,000 in cash and $200,000 in shares when his company went public, Weber Jr. was involved in the following: furnishing an extravagant apartment for his second wife, Miss Nina Farrington, who had overspent the amount he had guaranteed the store Hilton, Hughes & Co; failing to pay Hilton, Hughes & Co. any of the money he had guaranteed, prompting a lawsuit; paying alimony to his first wife, actress Irene Perry, who had divorced him;^[30][31] frequenting illegal poker and gambling establishments; being present in a gambling house when it was raided by police; and guaranteeing money to others when he knew that he was, in fact, insolvent.^[31] In the 1894 court proceeding, Weber Jr. admitted that he had been sued 'about seventy-five times' for failing to pay his debts.^[31]

Lacking the business focus of Albert Weber Sr., but not his energy and zest for life, Weber Jr. was also known as something of a hothead and even spent a night in jail for assault.^[30] This 1896 assault charge, when Weber Jr. was 38 years old, gives some insight into his character, with the magistrate remarking 'You had no right to call this man names, and you also had no right to flourish a loaded revolver in that dangerous manner. I fine you $5.'^[30] Unfortunately for Weber, the only thing in his pockets was a bean shooter, so he spent the night in jail as he failed to produce the necessary $5.^[30] This incident occurred at the Weber Company's showrooms on Fifth Avenue in September 1896.^[30] Only a few weeks later, Weber had a mental breakdown that required he be taken to Bellevue Hospital's insane pavilion, although this may have been an attempt to escape from his creditors.^[32]

Despite his wild style of living, Weber Jr. also furnished the foundation many dramatic and literary publications in New York, and did oversee the expansion of the Weber Piano Company for many years.^[26] Like his father, Albert Weber Jr. lived only 50 years, dying October 16, 1908 in McIntosh, Florida.^[27] Weber retired from the piano-making business to seek his health (or possibly escape his creditors) in Florida, but contracted malaria there, which killed him.^[27]

Endorsements[edit]

Weber Jr. continued the aggressive advertising practices of his father, including traditional advertising, 'World's Fair'-type judging competitions, securing the endorsements of celebrities and royalty, and exhibition by well-known pianists in large cities.^[33] Weber received the endorsements of pianists such as Madeline Schiller, Constantin Ivanovich von Sternberg, Moriz Rosenthal and August Wilhelmj,^[34] as well as opera conductor Colonel James Mapleson.^[10] In 1887, the eleven-year-old prodigy Josef Hofmann toured America for the first time, playing a Weber piano^[2] (Hofmann would later endorse Steinway).^[35]

Weber pianos were also played and endorsed by Polish pianist (and later Prime Minister) Ignaz Paderewski after he had a quarrel with Steinway & Sons,^[2][10] as well as the King of Spain Alfonso XIII, Pope Pius X and Pope Pius XI, the latter of whom designated the Weber Piano as the official piano of the Vatican.^[10] Other royal families, including those of England, Wales, France, Italy, Belgium, and Sweden also selected the Weber Piano as their official piano, including Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Wilhelm II of Germany.^[10]

Weber Piano Company under William E. Wheelock[edit]

In 1892, the Weber company was taken over by William E. Wheelock (1852-?), Charles B. Lawson (1855-?), and John W. Mason (1842-1919).^[2] The company was renamed the Weber-Wheelock Company^[2] and public stock was issued the following year.^[31]

Wheelock began manufacturing pianos in 1873, and founded William E. Wheelock & Company in 1877, with operations in New York City.^[36] Wheelock was a successful businessman, and expanded his operations in New York several times.^[36] Wheelock's partner since 1880, Charles B. Lawson, helped Wheelock succeed in becoming a reputable and established piano maker in New York City.^[37] After the Weber-Wheelock merger, Lawson helped manage Weber as Vice President until 1906, when he launched his own firm, Lawson and Company, manufacturing the Lawson piano.^[38]

Following Wheelock's merger with Weber, the company was organized into three separate divisions, with three separate factories: the Weber Piano, the highest quality, made in the Weber factory; the Wheelock piano, a good-quality instrument made in the Wheelock factory; and the Stuyvesant, a medium-priced piano line, which Wheelock had introduced in 1886.^[38] In 1896, in the depths of the economic depression known as the Panic of 1893, the Weber-Wheelock Company almost went out of business, but managed to survive despite declaring bankruptcy.^[39]

Weber Piano Company under Aeolian[edit]

The Aeolian, Weber Piano & Pianola Company was founded in 1903 as a merger of the existing Aeolian Company and the Weber-Wheelock Company.^[40] Wheelock became Treasurer of the new company, and retained his position as president of Weber, Wheelock, and Stuyvesant companies.^[40]

Following the merger with Weber, the newly created company controlled several subsidiaries: The Aeolian Company (London), The Choralion Company (Berlin), The Aeolian Company, Ltd. (Paris), The Pianola Company Proprietary, Ltd. (Melbourne and Sydney), The Weber Piano Company (New York and London), George Steck & Company, Wheelock Piano Company, Stuyvesant Piano Company, Chilton Piano Company, Technola Piano Company, Votey Organ company, Vocalian Organ Company, and the Universal Music Company (a maker of rolls for player pianos).^[40] This new company become one of the largest piano companies of the day, with about 5,000 employees, multiple factories, and total capital of about $15.5 million.^[40]

In 1932, after the merger of Aeolian with the American Piano Company, Weber Piano Company signed a brand management contract with the new company to operate as the exclusive flagship brand of what was then the world's largest piano company.^[10] While Weber maintained a high-quality focus, Aeolian-American's piano sales slumped during the Great Depression,^[41] and the company struggled, culminating the company's CEO William H. Alfring committing suicide in 1937 by jumping in front of a New York City passenger train.^[42]

The Aeolian-American Company collapsed in bankruptcy in 1985, after navigating the decades-long waning popularity of the piano as a home entertainment device in favor of the radio and then the television.^[41] During that time, the Weber name continued to be a top-quality brand in Aeolian's lineup.^[2]

Weber Piano Company - Sale to Young Chang[edit]

Following the Aeolian bankruptcy, the company's assets were sold off. The Weber name was sold to Korean piano company Young Chang, which in turn sold the Weber name to Samsung Group in 1987.^[2] Young Chang itself was purchased by Hyundai Development Company in 2006.^[43]

Weber Pianos Today[edit]

Instruments built by Young Chang today are modern designs, and have little in common with the original nineteenth-century Weber designs, which would be considered dated today, especially considering efficiency of manufacturing.^[2]

Young Chang remains responsible for manufacturing Weber pianos, which are sold in two product lines: Weber, with entry-level and mid-level pianos, and Albert Weber, a high-quality line of pianos.^[3][4]

Albert Weber pianos are premium instruments, and are some of the best pianos made by Young Chang.^[3][44] Beginning in 1995, the Albert Weber line was designed by an international team under the auspices of Joseph Pramberger, who was formerly the Vice President of Manufacturing for Steinway & Sons.^[3] Pramberger died in 2003, but Young Chang has retained the rights to his designs.^[45]

Today's Albert Weber instruments are manufactured in South Korea on a separate production line from other Young Chang instruments, using parts from the Americas, Europe and Asia.^[3] The pianos have a solid AAA Alaskan Sitka spruce soundboard, Renner Blue hammers, Renner action, and Roslau strings.^[3] The Albert Weber pianos differ from similar-sized Young Chang pianos in that they use better-quality materials and have lower tension strings and softer hammers,^[44] both of which contribute to a 'warmer' sound that is more reminiscent of the warm 'Weber Tone' that Weber advertised heavily in the late nineteenth century.^[6] Albert Weber pianos also carry a longer warranty (fifteen years) than their Young Chang and Weber counterparts (ten years).^[44]

Today's Weber pianos are entry-level and mid-level instruments, and are more affordable than the Albert Weber line.^[3] In general, these pianos are similar to their Young Chang counterparts in all but the name.^[3] This similarity is because, in 2008, Young Chang hired American piano designer Delwin D. Fandrich to redesign their product lines, including both the Weber and Young Chang piano lines.^[44] From 2013, both Albert Weber and Weber are made by Hyundai Development Company as Premium Edition models.^[46]

Weber Piano Models[edit]

Summary of Grand Piano Models^[46][edit]

Summary of Upright Piano Models^[46][edit]

Serial Numbers[edit]

Historical serial numbers and approximate date of manufacture for Weber (New York) Pianos:^{[48][49][dubious]}

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^{abcdefghijklmn}Palmieri, Robert (2003). The Piano: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 427. ISBN0203427025.
2. ^ ^abcdefghiPalmieri, Robert (2003). The Piano: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 428. ISBN0203427025.
3. ^ ^abcdefgh'Albert Weber Pianos at Hollywood Piano Company'. Hollywood Piano Company. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
4. ^ ^ab'Weber Pianos at Hollywood Piano Company'. Hollywood Piano Company. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
5. ^ ^abcdefg'Obituary. Albert Weber'(PDF). New York Times. 16 June 1879. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
6. ^ ^abcdefgDolge, Alfred (1911). Pianos and Their Makers: A comprehensive history of the development of the piano from the monochord to the concert grand player piano. Covina Publishing Company. p. 296.
7. ^ ^abcdeSpillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American pianoforte: its technical development, and the trade. Boston, MA: Harvard University. p. 230.
8. ^ ^abcdGroce, Nancy (1991). Musical Instrument Makers of New York: A Directory of 18th- And 19th-Century Urban Craftsmen. Pendragon Press. p. 169. ISBN0918728975.
9. ^Dolge, Alfred (1911). Pianos and Their Makers: A comprehensive history of the development of the piano from the monochord to the concert grand player piano. Covina Publishing Company. p. 297.
10. ^ ^abcdefg'Weber History'. weberpiano.com. Young Chang North America, Inc. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
11. ^Spillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American pianoforte: its technical development, and the trade. Boston, MA: Harvard University. p. 231.
12. ^ ^abDolge, Alfred (1911). Pianos and Their Makers: A comprehensive history of the development of the piano from the monochord to the concert grand player piano. Covina Publishing Company. p. 298.
13. ^ ^abc'The Late Albert Weber'(PDF). New York Times. 30 June 1879. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
14. ^Dolge, Alfred (1911). Pianos and Their Makers: A comprehensive history of the development of the piano from the monochord to the concert grand player piano. Covina Publishing Company. p. 299.
15. ^ ^abc'Albert Weber's Estate'(PDF). New York Times. 13 May 1880. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
16. ^ ^abFriedman, S. Morgan. 'The Inflation Calculator'. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
17. ^'Albert Weber's Will'(PDF). New York Times. 9 July 1879. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
18. ^'Court of Appeals Decisions'(PDF). New York Times. 24 February 1884. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
19. ^ ^abcdSteinway and Sons
20. ^ ^abc'History of Pianos'. Toews Music. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
21. ^ ^ab'The Piano-Forte and Organ Makers'(PDF). New York Times. 23 December 1874. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
22. ^ ^abcdefg'Musical Instruments. Excitement in the Piano-Forte and Organ Trade'(PDF). New York Times. 12 February 1876. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
23. ^ ^abcde'Musical Instruments. Continued Excitement in the Piano-Forte and Organ Trade'(PDF). New York Times. 15 February 1876. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
24. ^ ^ab'Hale, Joseph P.'The Antique Piano Shop. The Antique Piano Shop. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
25. ^ ^abHenry E. Steinway
26. ^ ^abcde'Albert Weber's Imprudence'(PDF). New York Times. 17 September 1883. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
27. ^ ^abc'Albert Weber Obituary'(PDF). New York Times. 18 October 1908. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
28. ^Spillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American pianoforte: its technical development, and the trade. Boston, MA: Harvard University. p. 232.
29. ^'Affairs of the Weber Estate'(PDF). New York Times. 11 January 1884. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
30. ^ ^abcdef'Albert Weber A Prisoner'(PDF). New York Times. 17 September 1896. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
31. ^ ^abcde'Albert Weber and his debts'(PDF). New York Times. 25 January 1894. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
32. ^'Albert Weber perhaps insane'(PDF). New York Times. 2 October 1896. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
33. ^Dolge, Alfred (1911). Pianos and Their Makers: A comprehensive history of the development of the piano from the monochord to the concert grand player piano. Covina Publishing Company. p. 175.
34. ^Spillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American pianoforte: its technical development, and the trade. Boston, MA: Harvard University. pp. 231–232.
35. ^Josef Hofmann
36. ^ ^abSpillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American pianoforte: its technical development, and the trade. Boston, MA: Harvard University. p. 287.
37. ^Spillane, Daniel (1890). History of the American pianoforte: its technical development, and the trade. Boston, MA: Harvard University. pp. 288–289.
38. ^ ^abDolge, Alfred (1913). Pianos and Their Makers: Development of the piano industry in America since the centennial exhibition at Philadelphia, 1896. Covina Publishing Company. pp. 325–326.
39. ^'Piano Trade Failures'(PDF). New York Times. 4 February 1896. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
40. ^ ^abcdDolge, Alfred (1911). Pianos and Their Makers: A comprehensive history of the development of the piano from the monochord to the concert grand player piano. Covina Publishing Company. p. 332.
41. ^ ^abPalmieri, Robert (2003). The Piano: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 27. ISBN0203427025.
42. ^'Alfring Ends Life In Dive Under Train'. New York Times. 13 March 1937. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
43. ^Young Chang
44. ^ ^abcd'Piano Brands - Piano Manufacturers - Young Chang'. Piano Buyer, Fall 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
45. ^Joseph Pramberger
46. ^ ^abc'Weber Piano'. Weber Piano Official Site. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
47. ^ ^ab'Piano Buyer Database'. Piano Buyer. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
48. ^'Estey Piano Age Calculator'(PDF). Estey Piano. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
49. ^'Free Piano Age & Research'. Blue Book of Pianos. Retrieved 14 March 2013.

External links[edit]

• Delwin Fandrich Official Website - designer of modern Weber and Young Chang pianos
• Piano Buyer - Young Chang - summary of current Young Chang / Weber models and brands
• Online museum of antique Weber pianos - including grands, square grands, and uprights
• Rebuilding a 1923 Weber Concert Grand - with detailed photographs

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

1928-100000 1929-104000 1930-105000 1931-106000 1932-107000 1933-108000

ACOUSTIGRANDE

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.

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.

H. B. 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

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. ft. 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. W.P. Haines Pianette

Bradbury Hallet & Davis Pianola

Brewster Hardman Poole

D.S. Buchanan Heller & Company Primatone

Cable Holmer & Sons Restonic

Cable, Fayette S. Holmes & Co. 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. W. 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

ALEXANDER

ANDERSON BROTHERS

1956-160000 1959-169000 1962-180000 1965-191000 1957-163100 1960-172000 1963-183000 1966-195000 1958-166000 1961-176000 1964-187000 1967-199000 ANGELUS

1912-1000 1915-3400 1918-5400 1921-7500

1913-1500 1916-4200 1919-6000 1922-8000

1914-2600 1917-4800 1920-6700

APOLLO

1901-2075 1911-17800 1921-45000 1931-112000 1902-4000 1912-19600 1922-49000 1932-118000 1904-7000 1914-23200 1924-58000 1934-130000 1905-8700 1915-24400 1925-63000 1935-132000 1906-10000 1916-26800 1926-77000 1936-135000 1907-11500 1917-29000 1927-80000 1937-137000 1908-13000 1918-32800 1928-87000 1938-150000 1909-14500 1919-36000 1929-95000 1939-155000 1910-16000 1920-40000 1930-106000

ARIA DIVINA

Verticals & Grand Built by Aeolian after 1959:

ASTIN – WEIGHT

AUGUST FORSTER

1873- 900 1924- 50000 1960-122500 1974-147500

AUTOTONE PLAYER PIANOS

1960-121100 1966-134300 1972-142900 1978-150900 1961-123400 1967-136000 1973-144700 1979-150300 1962-126200 1968- N/A 1974-146500 1980-151100 1963-128500 1969- N/A 1975-147600 1981-151800 1964-130500 1970- N/A 1976-148700 1982-152200 1965-132000 1971-141100 1977-149900 1983-153100

BACON, FRANCIS

1950-408000 1964-570000 1971-643000 1978-722500 1955-503000 1965-579000 1972-653500 1979-737000 1958-521000 1966-589000 1973-660000 1980-754000 1960-535000 1967-601500 1974-683000 1981-767000 1961-542000 1968-611000 1975-695000 1982-780000 1962-551000 1969-621000 1976-708500 1983-795491 BAILEY

1901-1000 1909-9000 1916-16000 1923-23000 1902-2000 1910-1000 1917-17000 1924-24000 1903-3000 1911-11000 1918-18000 1925-25000 1904-4000 1912-12000 1919-19000 1926-26000 1905-5000 1913-13000 1920-20000 1927-27000 1906-6000 1914-14000 1921-21000 1928-28000 1907-7000 1915-15000 1922-22000 1929-29000

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.

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. B. Chase, Aeolian, Ampico, Baldwin, Cable, Chickering, Ellington, Howard, Ivers & Pond, J & C Fischer, 1{ranich & 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.

Baldwin vertical pianos up to 42” tall

Baldwin vertical 248A Pro, 48”

1990-427993 1991-435212 1992-440915 1993-445623

Baldwin vertical pianos 44” tall and up: 6000, 5050, 248 (after 1993), 243

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.

BAY. H.C.

1914-3000 1918-8000 1922-14000 1926-19200 1915-4000 1919-9500 1923-15500 1927-20300 1916-5000 1920-11000 1924-17000 1928-22000 1917-6500 1921-12500 1925-18000 1929-23000

BECHSTEIN

BENT, GEORGE P.

Bjur Bros. same serial numbers as Brambach by Kohler & Campbell after 1955.

1912-10000 1916-14000 1920-18000 1924-22000

1914-12000 1917-15000 1921-19000 1925-23000

1915-13000 1918-16000 1922-20000

BOSENDORFER

1900-15640 1935-25700 1950-26960 1970-29109

1910-19640 1940-26290 1955-27490 1975-30622

1920-22530 1944-26730 1960-27900 1980-33444

BRADBURY

1900-29400 1930-98000 1942-204000 1949-254000 1910-35700 1935-125000 1943-210000 1951-266000 1920-40000 1940-183000 1947-243000 1952-300000 1925-40300 1941-193000 1948-250000 1953-305000 1960-364200 1966-397700 1972-420500 1978-44000 1961-370700 1967-401500 1973-424900 1979-44400 1962-376900 1968-405200 1974-430300 1980-44690 1963-383100 1969-407500 1975-433400 1981-44970 1964-387900 1970-410900 1976-436900 1982-45240 1965-392000 1971-415600 1977-438000

BRAMBACH

1900-10000 1930-266000 1942-300200 1950-408000 1910-30000 1935-274000 1947-401000 1951-412000 1920-50000 1940-289000 1948-403000 1952-416000 1925-60000 1941-295000 1949-406000 1953-420000 1955-503000 1965-579000 1972-653500 1979-737000 1958-521000 1966-589000 1973-660000 1980-754000 1960-535000 1967-601500 1974-683000 1981-767000 1961-542000 1968-611000 1975-695000 1982-780000 1962-551000 1969-621000 1976-708500 1983-795491 1963-560000 1970-631500 1977-712000

BRINKERHOFF

1907-3500 1913-80000 1919-140000 1925-190000 1908-6000 1914-88000 1920-147500 1926-202000 1909-9000 1915-100000 1921-155000 1927-210000 1910-11000 1916-110000 1922-162500 1928-218000 1911-62000 1917-120000 1923-170000 1929-226000 1912-71000 1918-130000 1924-180000 1930-230000

BUSH & GERTS

1900-22000 1920-62000 1931-72200 1939-73600

1905-33000 1925-70000 1933-72500 1941-74100

1915-55000 1930-72000 1936-72900 1942-75000

BUSH & LANE

1902-18000 1920-46000 1923-52500 1928-61500

1905-23000 1921-47500 1924-68000 1929-62000

1915-37500 1922-49800 1925-57700 1930-63000

CABARET PLAYER PIANO

1977-5000 1979-7800 1981-10100

1978-6600 1980-9000 1982-11300

CABLE

CABLE – PRE-1950

1885-3000 1909-122000 1920-224000 1931-300000

1908-110000 1919-217000

CABLE after 1950 Aeolian

1950-318000 1959-345800 1967-393000 1975-425700 1951-321000 1960-350600 1968-392800 1976-429300 1952-323000 1961-355000 1969-398000 1977-434000 1953-326000 1962-360000 1970-402000 1978-437000 1954-333000 1963-365000 1971-407300 1979-443000 1955-336500 1964-372000 1972-411400 1980-448000 1956-338000 1965-379000 1973-415900 1981-451000 1957-339200 1966-386000 1974-420700 1982-455200 1958-342400

CABLE, HOBART M.

CABLE-NELSON Made by Everett to 1973

1900-42000 1910-54000 1920-62000 1930-72000 Vertical & Grand Pianos After 1960 Made by Aeolian

CHICKERING & SONS

1900-11000 1916-25000 1921-34000 1927-39900

1905-15000 1917-26800 1923-37800 1928-40300

1915-23500 1920-32000 1925-39000 1929-41000

CLARENDON

1910-33100 1923-100000 1925-106600 1928-115900

1915-64000 1924-102400 1926-109000 1930-117000

CONOVER

1960-350600 1962-360000 1964-372000 1961-355000 1963-365000 1965-379000

CONOVER-CABLE

1950-318000 1958-342400 1966-386000 1975-425700 1951-321000 1959-345800 1967-393000 1976-429300 1952-323000 1960-350600 1969-398000 1977-434000 1953-326000 1961-355000 1970-401700 1978-437000 1954-333000 1962-360000 1971-407300 1979-443000 1955-336500 1963-365000 1972-411400 1980-448000 1956-338000 1964-372000 1973-415900 1981-451000 1957-339200 1965-379000 1974-420700 1982-455200

CROWN

Crown pianos by Crown Before 1960:

1900-15000 1920-72300 1930-102500 1940-198000 1905-33000 1927-89000 1933-118000 1947-243000 1910-50000 1928-94000 1936-153000 1948-250000 1915-64000 1929-98000 1939-190000 1949-254000 Crown Pianos Made by Aeolian After 1960:

1965-1000 1968-16000 1971-31000 1974-49500

1966-6000 1969-21000 1972-36500 1975-56000

1967-11500 1970-26500 1973-42500 1976-63000

DAVENPORT – TREACY

1964-100442 1969-12000 1974-135600 1979-145600 1965-104300 1970-12190 1975-137500 1980-148000 1966-109800 1971-12490 1976-140900 1981-150500 1967-112300 1972-12720 1977-142800 1982-145300

ESTEY

Alexander Malcome Love Lancaster Chase & Baker Drachmann Metropolitan Anderson Bro Meldorf Purcell Wegman Soward Settergren

Estey Pianos with Settergren numbers:

1928-8000 1934-17500 1939-22400 1943-24800

1982-1001 1985-1016 1988-1110 1991-1414

1983-1004 1986-1027 1989-1201 1992-1560

1984-1008 1987-1047 1990-1305 1993-1620

FAZER

1965-4510 1972-13705 1979-45105 1986-87510 1966-5810 1973-16410 1980-55800 1987-92510 1967-6410 1974-19610 1981-62000 1988-98116 1968-7301 1975-22305 1982-69150 1989-105240 1969-8005 1976-26505 1983-73055 1990-111644 1970-9205 1977-31013 1984-76050 1992-116787 1971-10605 1978-41520 1985-81860 1993-121810

FEURICH

1900-13900 1930-46500 1955-53400 1970-62400 1910-23800 1935-47500 1960-55150 1975-66300 1915-30600 1940-49600 1965-59001 1980-70000 1920-35100 1944-50500 1967-61000 1985-73500 1925-40700 1950-51300 1969-61600 1990-77000

FISCHER, J & C

1900-115000 1950-187000 1969-214239 1975-219100

1905-126700 1960-198500 1970-215343 1976- N/A

1910-134000 1965-207741 1971-216700 1977- N/A

GRAND-KINKAID by Marantz

Superscope Pianocorder Player Pianos

GULBRANSEN

1915-90000 1940-344000 1961-479000 1966-551000

HAINES BROTHERS

HALLET & DAVIS PIANO COMPANY

Grands before 1960. Vertical & Grands after 1960

1901-49500 1915-85000 1929-131000 1944-215000 1902-51000 1916-89000 1930-132000 1945-215000 1903-53000 1917-93000 1931-132000 1946-215000 1904-55000 1918-96500 1932-132000 1947-503000 1905-55000 1919-100000 1934-132000 1948-504000 1906-59000 1920-102000 1935-133000 1949-504900 1907-61000 1921-105000 1936-135000 1950-506000 1908-63000 1922-109000 1937-153000 1951-507000 1909-65000 1923-113000 1938-163000 1952-508000 1910-68000 1924-117000 1939-170000 1953-507550 1911-71000 1925-121000 1940-183000 1954-509700 1912-74000 1926-124000 1941-193000 1955-510270 1913-77000 1927-128000 1942-204000 1956-510260 1914-81000 1928-131000 1943-215000 1957-510500

Verticals & Grands By Winter/Aeolian after 1960:

1960-364200 1966-397700 1972-420500 1978-440000 1961-370700 1967-401500 1973-424900 1979-444000 1962-376900 1968-405200 1974-430300 1980-446900 1963-383100 1969-407500 1975-433400 1981-449700 1964-387900 1970-410900 1976-436900 1982-452400 1965-392000 1971-415600 1977-438000

HAMILTON

1900-16000 1922-102200 1935-127500 1960-188249 1905-36000 1923-107500 1940-132000 1966-226950 1910-56000 1924-111000 1947-135000 1973-279076 1915-76000 1925-115500 1952-149000 1980-343950 1920-93000 1930-126000 1955-160686 1982-366819

HARDMAN

1900-48000 1922-89300 1935-95200 1960-121100 1905-58000 1923-90000 1940-97000 1966-134300 1910-68100 1924-91000 1947-101000 1973-144700 1915-77200 1925-91500 1952-106400 1980-151100 1920-86000 1930-94200 1955-109000 1982-152200

HARRINGTON

1900-24500 1922-93000 1935-118000 1956-164200 1905-32000 1923-96000 1940-130000 1957-165000 1910-43000 1924-99000 1947-151500 1958-166000 1915-70000 1925-102000 1952-158600 1959-166723 1920-88000 1930-105300 1955-163200 1960-167125

HAZELTON BROTHERS

1900-25800 1922-215000 1935-274000 1950-408000 1905-37600 1923-223000 1940-289000 1952-416000 1910-49000 1924-230000 1947-401000 1954-427000 1915-64000 1925-237000 1948-403000 1955-503000 1920-73000 1930-266000 1949-406000 1960-511000

HINZE MADE BY KIMBALL

1904-55000 1918-96500 1932-132000 1947-503000

1905-55000 1919-100000 1934-132000 1948-504000

HORUGEL Germany

1900-8800 1922-34750 1932-43180 1948-40800 1905-11150 1923-35200 1933-44000 1949-44630 1915-28950 1925-37500 1935-43380 1951-44900 1920-32500 1930-42500 1940-44000 1952-45100

HORUGEL Samick Korea

1976-00645 1977-00847 1978-30150 1979-32740

HOWARD BUILT BY BALDWIN

1900-9000 1922-145000 1935-251800 1950-443258 1905-31000 1923-154000 1936-260000 1951-468177 1910-57000 1924-162000 1940-300000 1960-496180 1915-83000 1925-172000 1948-402000 1965-825030 1920-12700 1930-217000 1949-431000 1968-106212

HYUNDAI

1978-30150 1981-31960 1984-50630 1988-114390

1979-32740 1982-39410 1985-53844 1990-380000

1980-29530 1983-53400 1986-75020 1995-500000

IRWIN & SONS

1960-158800 1962-169000 1964-183000 1966-207000

1961-163000 1963-176000 1965-195000 1967-219000

IVERS & POND

Grand Pianos Ivers & Pond Numbers:

1900-24000 1922-71000 1935-78400 1950-84000 1905-37800 1923-72100 1936-78600 1955-86350 1910-48100 1924-73200 1940-79900 1960-91014 1915-57900 1925-74500 1946-80000 1962-94370 1920-68900 1930-77500 1947-80300 1963-97026 1960-91014 1966-109800 1972-127200 1978-144000 1961-92222 1967-112300 1973-130700 1979-145600 1962-94371 1968-116000 1974-135600 1980-148000 1963-97026 1969-120000 1975-137500 1981-150500 1964-100442 1970-121900 1976-140900 1982-145300

KAWAI

1950-14200 1967-251660 1975-785568 1983-1372000 1952-15000 1968-303686 1976-844362 1984-1465000 1955-20590 1969-369088 1977-904384 1985-1549000 1958-23200 1970-425121 1978-973490 1986-1627000 1960-26000 1971-488834 1979-1067130 1987-1704000 1964-13230 1972-558216 1980-1126366 1988-1779000 1965-16517 1973-633601 1981-1219355 1989-1850000 1966-20343 1974-718768 1982-1300000 1990-1921000

KIMBALL

1900-71000 1920-322000 1930-383000 1940-442000

1905-140000 1921-328000 1931-386000 1941-442000

1910-211000 1922-336000 1932-389000 1942-444000

Note: No production during WWII 1943/ 1944 / 1945

Vertical and Grand pianos after 1950:

KINGSBURY MADE BY THE CABLE COMPANY CHICAGO

Grand Pianos by Kingsbury Before 1949:

KOHLER & CAMPBELL

Astor Brambach Davenport Hilton Behning Campbell J.C. Hazleton Stratford Behr Brothers Celeste Kohler, Charles Tom Thumb Bacon, Francis Classic Kroger Waldorf

KRAKAUER BROS.

KRANICH & BACH

1900-35000 1940-74600 1971-95000 1975-97100 1910-50000 1950-77200 1972-95600 1976-97700 1920-60900 1960-86200 1973-96200 1977-97780 1930-71000 1970-93300 1974-96700 1981-98000

KROGER

1900-10000 1917-190000 1925-237000 1933-270000 1905-46000 1918-198000 1926-240000 1934-272000 1910-116000 1919-203000 1927-250000 1935-274000 1913-150000 1921-210000 1929-264000 1937-278000 1914-155000 1922-215000 1930-266000 1947-401000 1915-165000 1923-223000 1931-267000 1948-403000 1916-179000 1924-237000 1932-268000 1949-406000

KURTZMANN

1900-13000 1917-61000 1925-86000 1933-97000

1905-25000 1918-65000 1926-89000 1934-97300

1914-46000 1922-77000 1930-96000 1938-107000

LANCASTER

1956-160000 1959-169000 1962-180000 1965-191000

1957-163100 1960-172000 1963-183000 1966-195000

1958-166000 1961-176000 1964-187000

LAUGHEAD, GORDON

1948-4100 1952-7500 1955-9500 1959-13800

1949-5000 1953-8200 1956-10100 1960-15000

1950-5900 1954-8900 1957-10960 1964-22130

LESAGE (Canadian Affiltate – Aeolian)

1960-36000 1967-47000 1975-56500 1982-65800 1961-37050 1968-48000 1976-58000 1983-66300 1962-38600 1969-49500 1977-60000 1984-66750 1963-40300 1970-50500 1978-61200 1985-67300 1964-42000 1971-51500 1979-62700 1986-67730 1965-44000 1972-53000 1980-64000 1987-67905 1966-45500 1974-54500 1981-65500 1988-70000

LESSING

1900-23090 1913-56000 1917-109500 1924-171000 1910-39000 1915-90000 1918-118000 1925-180000 1911-47000 1916-99500 1919-127000 1927-196000 LESTER (Betsy Ross)

1948-175000 1951-209000 1954-241000 1958-299700 1949-181000 1952-220000 1956-272000 1959-308800 1950-193000 1953-231000 1957-280000 1960-324400

LOVE, MALCOLM

1956-160000 1959-169000 1962-180000 1965-191000

1957-163100 1960-172000 1963-183000 1966-191800

1958-166000 1961-176000 1964-187000 1967-191950

LOWREY

1963-349000 1967-449000 1971-463000 1975-519000 1964-364000 1968-421000 1972-477000 1976-533000 1965-379000 1969-435000 1973-491000 1977-528325 1966-393000 1970-449000 1974-505000 1978-541325

MARSHALL & WENDELL

MELODIGRAND AEOLIAN 64 and 73 NOTE PIANOS

1949-1000 1952-6100 1955-9300 1958-12110

1950-3200 1953-7200 1956-10300 1959-13206

1951-4400 1954-8500 1957-11114 1960-14006

MELODIGRAND POOLE/IVERS & POND NUMBERS

MELVILLE CLARK

1901-2075 1913-22000 1925-63000 1934-134000

1910-16000 1915-24400 1930-118000 1935-136000

1911-17800 1920-40000 1932-130000 1927-150000

MENDELSOHN

MILLER, HENRY F. AEOLIAN

POOLE/IVERS & POND NUMBERS

MONARCH BY BALDWIN

1900-5000 1950-67280 1975-211900 1982-340000

1910-8450 1960-87200 1976-233700 1985-355000

PIANOLA PLAYER PIANOS

PLAYTONE PLAYER PIANOS

POOLE PIANO COMPANY

1900-26000 1915-57900 1935-77400 1952-83400 1908-44000 1925-74500 1946-78300 1957-87490 1910-48100 1930-76800 1949-78800 1959-89816 1960-91014 1966-109800 1972-127200 1978-144000 1961-92222 1967-112300 1973-130700 1979-145600 1962-94371 1968-116000 1974-135600 1980-148000 1963-97026 1969-120000 1975-137500 1981-150500

1978-30150 1981-31960 1984-50630 1988-114390

SCHAEFFER

1900-17000 1919-58300 1922-65000 1925-71000

1910-36000 1920-60600 1923-67000 1929-75300

1915-50500 1921-52400 1924-69000 1931-77900

SCHAFER & SONS

1977-100000 1981-400000 1985-660000 1989-HG0089

1978-280000 1982-410000 1986-860000 1990-HG0190

1907-3500 1913-80000 1919-140000 1925-190000

SETTERGRIN, B.K.

STARCK, P.A.

Grand pianos * Serial numbers preceded by a G.

STECK GEORGE Est. 1857 New York, N.Y.

STEINWAY & SONS

1900-95000 1955-346500 1970-418000 1981-473500

STING PLAYER PIANOS

VOSE & SONS

Weber Piano Serial Number Check

1940-90700 1963-98329 1968-10002 1978-100733

WEGMAN

1956-160000 1959-169000 1962-180000 1965-191000

1958-166000 1961-176000 1964-187000 1967-192000

WEINBACH

WILLIS & SONS

Weber Piano Serial Number Yg0135964

1900-20000 1940-57300 1952-74700 1957-84800 1910-28400 1945-63300 1953-78600 1958-92500 1930-45700 1951-68800 1955-81600 1960-102000 1960-364200 1966-397700 1972-420500 1978-440000 1961-370700 1967-401500 1973-424900 1979-444000 1962-376900 1968-405200 1974-430300 1980-446900 1963-383100 1969-407500 1975-433400 1981-449700

WINTER

1900-4000 1940-183000 1952-291000 1957-84800 1910-28000 1946-225000 1953-310000 1958-92500 1930-98000 1951-278000 1955-324000 1960-102000 1960-364200 1966-397700 1972-420500 1978-440000 1961-370700 1967-401500 1973-424900 1979-444000 1962-376900 1968-405200 1974-430300 1980-446900 1963-383100 1969-407500 1975-433400 1981-449700

After 1960:

1960-91014 1966-109800 1972-127200 1978-144000 1961-92222 1967-112300 1973-130700 1979-145600 1962-94371 1968-116000 1974-135600 1980-148000 1963-97026 1969-120000 1975-137500 1981-150500 1964-100442 1970-121900 1976-140900 1982-145300

WURLITZER

Apollo-De Kalb-Julius Bauer-Melville Clark-Farney Kingston-Kurtzman-Merrium-Schaff Bros.-Underwood 1901- 480 1910-11600 1919-36000 1928-85000 1902-1430 1911-13000 1920-40000 1929-93000 1903-1910 1912-14000 1921-45000 1930-112000 1904-3000 1913-15000 1922-49000 1931-118000 1905-4500 1914-19000 1923-53000 1932-126500 1906-6000 1915-22000 1924-58000 1933-130300 1907-7500 1916-25000 1925-63000 1934-133300 1908-9000 1917-28000 1926-77000 1935-136000 1909-10300 1918-32000 1927-80000 1936-138700

After 1937:

1937-150000 1952-444000 1969-106500 1981-1645000 1938-175000 1953-474451 1970-1105000 1982-1700000 1939-180000 1955-537000 1971-1145000 1983-1725000 1940-195000 1960-657000 1972-1175000 1984-1775000 1941-210000 1961-715000 1973-1205000 1985-1825000 1942-225000 1962-760000 1974-1235000 1986-1850000 1946-330000 1963-815000 1975-1266000 1987-1900000 1947-333000 1964-860000 1976-1296000 1988-2020000 1948-340000 1965-905000 1977-1385000 1989-2055000 1949-370000 1966-945000 1978-1495000 1990-2080000

YOUNG CHANG

Vertical pianos

1978-780000 1981-810000 1984-009400 1987-0261000

1979-790000 1982-001000 1985-014700 1988-1300000

Lester Piano Company Serial Number

1980-800000 1983-004000 1986-019950 1989-1433342

Grand Pianos

1978-780000 1981-810000 1984-011000 1987-026100

Weber Baby Grand Piano Serial Numbers

1979-790000 1982-004700 1985-016000 1988-032000

1980-800000 1983-007300 1986-019600 1989-045739

ZIMMERMANN

1960-195001 1965-215001 1970-246001 1980-400001