Bechstein Date

[Farrell]

That may well. I'm quite sure mine was made in 1900.............OK, I just went out to the shop to look for my serial number - not anywhere at the forward end of the soundboard. I did find a four or five digit number stamped to the soundboard right at the bass end of the long bridge. If it is the four digit number mine would have been built in 1866 - hmmmm, I think not. If it is five digit, and the first digit is an 8 (that is the hard one to see - the varnish on the board is all grumpled up), it would be a 1907. I believe when I had the action out I found a number in there and concluded it was built in 1900 - maybe not?

Anyway, mine has a Langer action with modern brass capstans. The action is modern in every way. The case has a chine at the treble end of the long bridge, a smooth wide rounded corner at the tenor end of the bass bridge, and a chine at the low end of the bass bridge. Clearly mine is a transition from the hard chines at all locations on the case, to the modern continuous-bent-appearing rim. 

My guess is that yours is older than mine if you have the rocker-type capstans. What type of bends do you have in your case? 

I'll bet some of our European friends might be able to help us out.
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 9:19 PM
Subject: Re: Bechstein Date


> I looked everywhere.  Of course, I'm getting to that age where things I see
> don't always register in my brain.  But I don't think it is on the
> soundboard.  The action has those two screw adjustment levers where the
> capstan is normally, if that gives any clue to its age.
> 
> 
> David Love
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: February 27, 2002 6:17 PM
> Subject: Re: Bechstein Date
> 
> 
> > Did you look on the soundboard? If I recall correctly, the serial number
> of mine is at the forward end of the board either on the bass edge or near
> the treble.
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
> > To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 8:03 PM
> > Subject: Bechstein Date
> >
> >
> > I'm trying to identify the date of a Bechstein IV (7'4").  It appears that
> the serial number has been removed from the plate by overly vigorous
> cleaning.  I can find no other number except an embossed number on one of
> the cross braces under the piano.  This number reads 16226.  I don't believe
> this is the serial number as that would put the piano back to 1885.  The
> owner seems to think it is c 1910-1915.  Anybody know what that number
> refers to and can I trace the date through it?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > David Love
> >
> >
> >
>