Challen age?

[kevcathc]

Hi
I am tring to establish the age of my Challen 'baby' grand piano - I've found what I think the serial number is. It is under the far left key on a piece of faded paper - it reads 'order number 27478' - this full number is also etched into the bottom two keys of the keyboard wood as well, near the hammers. Furthermore, 478 is imprinted at the back of the keyboard on the keys too. The paper also reads B&R16 and this is written in pencil on the wood by the paper as well (presumably that refers to Barrat & Robinson). There is a date in red ink on the paper which looks like either 13Feb, 23Feb or 73Feb (I can't quite tell).

The piano was bought for me 'new' in 1979 and it looks quite modern (I can't believe it is older). However, the number 27478 dates to 1900-1910.

Can anyone help me with the date and if I am doing the right thing!.

Many thanks

[Bill Kibby]

478 sounds like a normal confirmation of a case number 27478, which might be found on all removable parts of the case, but this would not be called an order number, so there is probably another number somewhere around 104,000 or 70,000. Dating baby grands of the 1900s by appearance is virtually impossible, they are all so similar. Challen pianos were not all made at the same factory, and if you think it is 1979, and it looks like 1979, the last thing you should worry about is numbers, they are a nightmare! Read the Numbers link at pianogen.org for more information about why numbers are not always the best answer, then go to the Datemarks link for a possible alternative.