[pianotech] Steinway Grand

[Carlos Ralon]

Regarding the "case" number.. According to the book "PIANO" by James Barron, he says the Alpha  letter followed by three numbers in question indicates only the month the piano was given this number.  It does not indicate the year of construction, but when the rim was bent.  As I understand it the 6 digit serial # is applied just before the piano is about ready to leave the factory. At least it was on the construction of the D he follows through the factory. Number K0862.  A single Steinway can have as many as 3 sets of numbers. The K indicated the month only.  
I hope this helps.
Carlos Ralon, RPT

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 12:36 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Steinway Grand


  Frank:

  Do you remember how to parse the four-digit with a letter stamps on the plate? I thought they would be translatable to month and year of manufacture. Is that a myth?

  Paul

  In a message dated 1/27/2011 11:34:28 P.M. Central Standard Time, pianoguru at cox.net writes:
    In a few, rare cases the serial number is assign at the front of the line. 
    More often, the serial number is assign at the end of the line.  When the 
    serial number is assigned at the end, a case number of 3 - 4 digits (usually 
    too few digits for a serial number) is used to return the case parts to the 
    instrument to which it was originally fitted.  If you find the same number 
    on virtually every case part, it is almost certainly a case number, 
    especially if it is a shorter number than you would expect of that 
    manufacturer's serial number sequence.  The problem with assigning serial 
    numbers at the front of the line is that the pianos never arrive at the end 
    of the line even close to the same sequence in which they began, which makes 
    it almost impossible to say which serial number marks the beginning number 
    of a new year's production.

    Frank Emerson 

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