Hi Stéphane I havent dug into this one so very much yet.... so I dont have a lot of specifics to relate. It is a two bridge affair tho. The exact serial number is 17521 and it does have iron strings. Pretty common for the period and a perfectly viable solution to my mind. I'll get more pics as the later on. Cheers RicB http://www.pianostemmer.no/images/Pleyel2.jpg Hi Ric. I have the same ! I have the same ! Mine is 1853 (serial 19443), but for its time, it is old fashioned : it has still a one piece bridge and the old fashioned iron strings, while at that time, other Pleyels had the newer steel and two bridges. Again, I suppose there was no one day when old model was discontinued because of a new model, and I suppose there were stocks of iron and cases that had to be exploited. How is yours ? Two bridges ? On the action of mine, there is a printed logo of "Charlier, manufacture de pianos, Paris". I believe 1850ies were a period of huge output for Pleyel (the last years of Camille, the son of Ignace), and they could have other factories in Paris (there were hundreds at that time) make Pleyel pianos in addition to the Pleyel factory output. Pleyel did continuously try many designs instead of sleeping on one good seller. Mine has a very curious cantilevered bridge. I kept the original board, full of minor cracks (flame suit on), and the original hammers (same), but I can swear you that the piano sounds very good, very musical.
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