Arlie; Ed is right about the key signatures and dates. If you are willing to make some assumptions you can interpolate and get a close approximate date and as he said how close do you need to be ? the math works out this way on your piano: 1895-#1900 1900-#5335 ------------ 5 yrs 3435 pianos = 687 pianos a year 687 div 12 (months) = 58 pianos per month #2671 - #1900 = 771 pianos 771 div 58 = 13.3 months 1895 + 13.3 months = manufacture date of Feb. 1896. This of course is only an aprox. date but it is the closest you will probably get if there is no signature on a key with a date. The only check on this method that I am aware of is if there is a patent date on the plate with a later date, say Jan. 1897, if so, than obviously something is askew. Jim Bryant (FL)
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