Hoffmann? Piano

raymondot · Post by **raymondot** » 16 Feb 2007, 20:23

Hello what a great site! I have just purchased a "boudoir" grand piano serial no 5034 with the name Hoffmann on a transfer on the fall. I doubt that it is a Hoffmann but there are no other names on the piano and a curved plate about 8" x 3" which would have been held on with 2 screws to the cast frame has been removed. The only identifier that I can see is a moulding in the casting near to one of the sound holes which is about 2" in diameter and consists of a pitcher (jug) with a letter C in the middle and with the pitcher handle on the right hand side of the symbol.
Does this mean anything to anybody?

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 16 Feb 2007, 20:42

When you say that you doubt it, you have to realise that there have been a whole lot of different pianos called Hofmann, Hoffman, Hoffmann, Haufmann etc.. Seial numbers won't help you. The pitcher mark on the frame suggests that this is a British one, perhaps early 1900s, but such grands are incredibly difficult to assess for age, because they were som similar over such a long period. Ask your tuner to check over the action for marks and numbers, and look at the Datemarks link at pianogen.org