A. Bord, Chas. Stiles & Co.

[moran5]

Hello, I emailed Mr. Bill Kibby-Johnson about a piano we recently purchased. I thought I would include those emails here because the information was very enlightening, and I thought someone else might benefit from it. Here it is:

To Bill:

Hello, Bill. I bought an old (A. Bord) piano for my son for Christmas because I figured, even if it didn't play very well, it would look really good in my living room. We were told it had not been tuned in 10 years. He's been practicing tuning it since Christmas (This is his first experience at tuning a piano.) It's sounding really good, except he can't get to the three strings in the upper octave. Anyway, my question is: Do you have any information that might help me determine how old this piano is. There are two sets of numbers actually engraved in the piano. They are 19412 (stamped in two different places) and 119940. I have included pictures of the piano in case that helps you at all. I understand that you can't really value an old piano based on age alone, so I won't ask. I would just like to know how old it is. I tried the little tool where you put in the serial numbers, but with the two different numbers, I got two different dates. I thought maybe you could help me out.

From Bill:

Hi! Thanks for your email. You may find it easier to look at pianogen.org
first if you haven't seen it already. The Numbers link there will explain that many published dates of serial numbers are wrong, including some of Bord's numbers, but it difficult to say which ones may be correct. Many of Bord's instruments in this country were imported by Charles Stiles, and have his stock number as well, so the question is whether there are any names written near the numbers to indicate which is Stiles number (if he imported it) and which is Bord's. Your numbers suggest 1871 or 1909, which is the more likely to be correct if it is the serial number. Have a look at the Datemarks link at pianogen.org

It would be interesting to have photos for our files, and we can compare with some of Bord's catalogue pictures. but no-one anywhere can give you a valuation without on-the-spot inspection. See the Valuation link at www.pianogen.org

To Bill:

I did send photos with the last email, but if you did not get them, let me know so I can resend them. I have included more with this email after doing more looking at the piano. I did in fact find CHAS STILES & CO barely readable under the 5-digit number, 19412. The name under the 6-digit number, 119940, is G. SCHMITT. I've tried to include pictures of these, as well as a picture of the really fancy "A.Bord" emblem in green cast iron. This is really an interesting piano to us. Thanks for filling us in on some information. So, does this mean it's actually the 1909 date or the older one? Enjoy the photos.

From Bill:

Hi! Thanks for your email. I'm sorry it took me a while to find the photos, they were mixed up with lots of others labelled "piano"! The piano is not as early as 1871. The Stiles number suggests a date after 1897, so that fits in quite well with 1909.

Bill Kibby-Johnson

[Bill Kibby]

Apparently you didn't realise that I am a moderator for this forum?

[moran5]

Yes, I did. I just wanted to give everyone else viewing the boards access to the information I received. Thank you for supplying so much valuable information.

[Bill Kibby]

That's fine, most of this has been given befoire in response to other Bord postings.