<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm doing a few repairs to a very old Chickering upright. I looked all over this piano and could not find a serial number. Truly an amazing piano - it is in extremely good shape for its age (my best guess is about 1885) - the wear/deterioration is that typical of a 40-50 year old piano well cared for in a private home.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am looking for input to date this thing. It is about 50 inches tall, has an exquisite burled walnut case, has the fretted (is that the right word - cross hatch pattern of wood with lots of openings) top panel with the silk behind, 85-note, open pinblock - 3/4, full perimeter plate, two pedal. I'm thinking these characteristics suggest a manufacturing date between 1880 and 1890 (especially the true 3/4 plate, the antique case, and the 85-note scale).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyone have an opinion on the age of this piano?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>