[pianotech] Steinway Grand

[Carlos Ralon]

Paul,
According to Barron's book "Piano'" pg 208 "The case number, a letter followed by 4 digits ---- K0862 , for example---- is assigned when the case is bent and is used to track the piano in the factory. The letter changes at the beginning of each year. In 2004 the case numbers began with L, and in 2005 with M. ( I and O are not used, because those letters could be confused with ONES and ZEROS. Nor are there Q, X, Y or Z years. The Q could be mistaken for an O or a zero; as for the others, Steinway has just never bothered with them.)  By the way, the CD numbers for concert pianos can be reused when the piano is retired.  I'm sorry if I confused you.  This might help you with piano trying to be aged. Good Luck.
Carlos
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 4:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Steinway Grand


  Still unclear, Carlos. "K" would make it November, but the number sequence following has a code for the point in time for when the rim was bent, and the K tells us that the number was given in a certain month? Wait, wait, there's something circular, or redundant, or oxymoronic, or regressive, or ad absurdam in this. I'm so totally confused. 

  P
  s
  In a message dated 1/28/2011 3:16:20 P.M. Central Standard Time, ceralon at comcast.net writes:
    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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