Hi Sheffey, it sure looks like a Baldwin 243 (studio, Hamilton) with a different cabinet. Piano assembly starts with a strung back. The strung back is then married to a cabinet. The cabinet could have been produced by an outside company. The eighties were a time when American companies were considering out sourcing more. I agree that the cabinet certainly looks Asian. Samick was blossoming about that time. Additionally, Baldwin was starting to use Mexico for assembly about that time. When did Sojin start showing up?
There was a "summer special" 42 inch piano that was a bottom feeder about that time as well. It came to the dealers needing darn near everything including some missing parts. Perhaps this one was a sampling of that process.
I'd go with the Hamilton serial number.
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Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-19-2020 21:52
From: Sheffey Gregory
Subject: Minor Baldwin SN mystery
This Monarch studio upright has SN 339428. It was 1st tuned by Clyde in 1985 [if you enlarge the photo you can see the dates on the hammers]. The basic Baldwin number would put it made in 1996, which obviously doesn't fit with the 1st date tuned. Of the different Baldwin listings: 44" tall + up/ Howard/Acrosonic/Hamilton, the only one that makes sense is the Hamilton date, which would have the piano made in 1979.
Can anyone shed more light on why Monarch was using Hamilton numbers, but not listed under Hamilton in Pierce? And just more about Monarch pianos in general?
Thanks,
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Sheffey Gregory, RPT
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