Challen

[pedal]

Hi, I am tring to establish the age of my piano - I've found what I think is the serial number: Y2205 but am confused by the 'Y'. When I try just 2205 in one of the piano manufacturers database it returns 1850s or earlier. The style of piano looks more like 1960s/70s to me.

[Bill Kibby]

Dating pianos by numbers is not that simple, see the Numbers item at pianogen.org

Modern Challens have the number inside right, below keyboard level, and also imprinted on the back.

[pedal]

We had another look and found P16343 carved in the wood under the lid on top right.
This dates it at between 1875 and 1930 according to a look up database on the web. It also has WH Barnes Oxford, London carved on the lid underside.
Its has CHALLEN LONDON Est 1804 in red on the metal frame top right.
The wood itself is plain - no carving, mainly dark wood, the legs are square and tapered. I'd take a photo but I need a new charger for my mobile phone....
I inherited it from my dad. Its in perfect nick which is why I thought it more modern.

[Bill Kibby]

This is not the serial number. As explained on my Numbers page, a letter before the number almost always indicates a dealer's stock number, and P stands for piano, where a firm like Barnes sold other things as well. Have you looked at the Datemarks information at pianogen.org?

[pedal]

We took the front off the piano and pulled the piano away from the wall to look at the back. We found a number at the bottom front on the frame: 4 7 35

[Bill Kibby]

This is not a number, as explained on my Datemarks item, it's the date the iron frame was cast. The piano would have been completed soon after 1935.