Collard and Collard Serial number

[Bachsky]

I have recently purchased a c.1850 Collard and Collard (London) Pianoforte. I have located what I believe is the serial number in two locations on this instrument. Problem: Pierce Piano Atlas lists 5 digit numbers for this vintage instrument and the number I assume to be the serial number is a four digit number. I've been told that there are errors in the Pierce listing. Does someone have some helpful suggestions to make?

This is a 7' grand - bichord (two stings per key) - straight strung - two pedals, a damper and a "true" una chorda - a narrow steel plate (no sound holes like a cast plate) and three steel stabilizing bars that run parallel with the strings. It has 80 keys (CC to g4).

[Bill Kibby]

You ask about numbers, but you don't tell us what they are. Answers to some of your questions may be found on my page at
http://pianogen.org/numbers.html
where you will find comments about published serial numbers generally, and about halfway down the page, specifics about Collard numbers. It's not good news for their 4-digit numbers.

If you can post photos of the whole piano here, or email them to me, they may help me to estimate its age.

I imagine the plate you are referring to is a wrought iron hitchplate following the curve of the bentside. This will be what is known as a composite frame, made by bolting or joining several separate pieces of wrought iron together.

[Bachsky]

Hello Bill,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and for your helpful suggestions.

The number - in large incised digits is: 4036 - and it appears exactly where you discribed with much more precise vocabulary that I am yet to learn...and it is boldly displayed in the center of the wood under the removed action and definitely is not on one of the instruments moveable parts.

I have not yet photographed this instrument but I am sending a link to you from someone in the UK who has taken numerous photos of the work he has done on a Collard and Collard that is very close to being a "twin" of mine.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 130&type=1

I hope this little bit of information will be helpful to you and that you will respond again to this post.
Thank you, "Bachsky" (my name is Terry Peterson and I live in Wisconsin)

[Bill Kibby]

All those photos and not one shows what the piano looks like, or what the serial number is!

I can only estimate that the number might be 1850, but I would rather see what it looks like.