Following on John's comments, in the past if you called with the serial number, Steinway would send a brief history of the piano (date manufactured, sold, any work done later by the factory, etc.) if requested. These days I believe there is a fee for this information.
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Patrick Draine RPT
Billerica MA
(978) 663-9690
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2023 14:07
From: John Zeiner
Subject: Steinway grand year?
Blaine,
My grandfather worked for a Steinway dealer before the depression (when the depression hit he was laid off and then went out on his own). He told me if a piano went back to the factory for work they put a date stamp on it. Also around this time they used a plated tuning pin that had the threads cut before the plating was done, which would account for the short time that the piano was out in the field. This is the way that I remember the story. (might be true)
John
Original Message:
Sent: 11/27/2023 1:00:00 AM
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Steinway grand year?
I just replaced a set of verdigris infected hammers on a Steinway O. There is a number that appears to be a date (1937) on the plate but the SN indicates that this is a 1923 piano. On the #1 key there is a manufacturing date stamp of April 17, 1923 that agrees with the catalog date, but what is the 1937 number?
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Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512
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