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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh, David, I have another =
idea.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Did you try to trace the many =
technicians
interventions by reading the front rail paper punchings ? It can =
be
funny. Often, at the factory in Berlin, Bechstein people used =
newspapers
to cut their thin front rail punchings. More than often, you will =
find a
date in the lower layer of punchings, probably original, surely if they =
appear
with that funny gothic style old days german letter type.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I often get my Bechsteins from United =
Kingdom, and
am often able to trace at what moment they have been imported to U.K., =
by
reading the many different layers of front rail news papers
punchings.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hope this can help.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stéphane Collin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Brussels, Belgium.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davidlovepianos@earthlink.net
href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">David Love</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 28, =
2002 2:03
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Bechstein Date</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>