If it was early 20th century it would have a scale number cast into the plate...121, 123, etc. If it has no scale number, and the casting is slightly (kind of) rough, I would be inclined toward the 1964 era (Aeolian) which would make it a prime candidate for rebuild.
Do the keys give evidence of having been recovered (as in ivory originally), or plastic originally? Also, what is the shape of the tail?
Pwg
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2019 09:01
From: James Kelly
Subject: Chickering serial number question
you may find it stamped into the lyre top but you would have to remove the lyre. other places to look -stamped into the keybed or soundboard or there could be a penciled serial number on the cheek blocks, back of key slip, action frame. paperwork for the rebuild may also have it. do you think it is early 1900's or mid 1900's / size and model may help in narrowing it down
------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 02-06-2019 22:32
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Chickering serial number question
Serviced an incredibly nice Chickering this afternoon. Rebuilt and refinished less than ten years ago. Probably a new pinblock as well. Very nice all around. But I have a problem. The serial number on it, (no longer on the plate since it was painted, but found stamped into the inside of the case and on the action frame), is 4692. That's like 1841 or something. This piano is NOT 178 years old. Next to the serial number on the action frame is a rubber stamp that says July, 1964, which is too old to indicate when it was rebuilt. Pierce sort of has a gap in this 1964 era on Chickering. Any ideas what this piano really is?
------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------