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Steinway Model?

  • 1.  Steinway Model?

    Posted 10-18-2018 17:05
    I tuned a Steinway grand today. Piano was restrung in the early 1970s and the plate may have been painted - no model designation or serial number on plate. Piano is close to 5'11" length and looks about 100 years old. Found a number on the bottom of the keybed - if by chance that is the serial number, it was built in 1906. I'm trying to figure out what model it might be.

    It looks like an L, however it has two nose bolts on the bass-most strut. I just did belly jobs on two Ls - one from the 1920s and one from the 1950s and both of them only had one nose bolt on the same strut. And the wording on the capo bar is different, along with the backscale setup - most Ls have the shiny "tuned" pieces that one can slide around (what the heck do you call those plates?) - this one has just a solid ridge much like a less expensive piano might have. A few pictures are attached.

    Anyone know what model this might be? Thanks!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 2.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-18-2018 17:30
    Hi Terry,
    If it is around 5'11" and has 26 bass notes, it is an 'O'.

    All the best,
    Jon






  • 3.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Posted 10-18-2018 17:33
    Can't use the nosebolts as an indicator. I have 2 M's. On the bass strut, one has 1 nosebolt, the other has 2. Each has a different plate number however, One says 9, the other 10.





  • 4.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-18-2018 18:09
    The nose bolts not withstanding, there are no duplex bars. When did Steinway start using them?

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 5.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-18-2018 19:55
    Mr. Farrell,

    It's a model O. The O is 5'10 1/2" has 4 plate holes like an L but a thinner string frame without cupola plate holes and it has a round tail like an M. The early model O's had cast rear duplexes and the designation miniature cast into the plate. Yours is likely old enough to have a straight bass bridge instead of curved like the later O's and the L which was a combination of the string scale of the O and the plate and rim configuration of the A. The O, M and S are all part of the miniature family.

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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  • 6.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Posted 10-19-2018 05:07
    Thanks Jon and Karl. I think you are spot on - it's an O. I do believe this is the first O I have serviced!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 7.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2018 09:54
    It's an O with cast in aliquots. Get the serial number from the action frame or a leg near the leg plate and send it to David Kirkland at Steinway to verify and get the povensnce.

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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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  • 8.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2018 11:30
    Usually, the serial number can also be (usually) found stamped into the keyslip, along with the 4 digit "factory tracking" number used until the piano is fully finished and a serial number is added.

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    Brian De Tar
    Portland OR
    503-201-5482
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  • 9.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2018 13:06
    A piano mover also told me that Steinway almost always stamped the serial number on the top part of the leg - the part that no one sees when the leg is attached to the piano. Admittedly not the best place to find it, but sometimes the only place.


    .... Especially if cat urine ruined the "usual" places for the serial number....

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 10.  RE: Steinway Model?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2018 13:23
    Benjamin

    Baldwin pianos have the serial number stamped on the top of the leg, not Steinway.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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