Challen & Hodgson

[Antz]

Hello

I've copied this discussion across from another topic (Oetzmann & Plumb - a different make of piano).

I'd asked about the Challen & Hodgson piano pictured at this link:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =214067308

Bill Kibby had replied:

"... this is not at all unusual for a Victorian London Cottage Piano, it is the usual, typical arrangement for the period, fretwork backed with silk or cloth. There were firms described as "Pianoforte Silkers" which just did that job. The Challen firm went through several name changes, and Challen & Hodgson was around in the 1870s. What a shame they didn't look inside the bottom and give us a date. These C&H pianos are usually dated on a wooden post inside the bottom, and have a serial number inside the top."

Well today, I went and had a look at the piano. It's in a terrible state. Middle C played as the G sharp below! A previous iteration of the cloth backing on the fretwork looked as though it had been made into a mouse's nest - inside the action!

But I did get the serial number - 10280. Couldn't find a decipherable date on the "wooden post inside the bottom". Does that serial no. given any more accurate indication of date of manufacture?

Thanks for any help

[Bill Kibby]

It's around 1873: After 1872, and before 1875, but they coud sit around in a retailers stock for a year or two, so it is not always possible to decide which date should be applied to a piano. Have a look at my Datemarks page at www.pianogen.org