Another John Spencer Piano in the USA... 53577 ??

[jjkatz]

Someone who lives relatively close to us gave this piano away and my wife and I were the lucky recipients. Although it is horribly out of tune and I can see some cracks in the soundboard, I'm not sure of its age. From reading various posts here I'd ballpark 1910 but given the condition of the wood I'm shocked it would be that old. My logic tells me that it was the 577th piano of 1953, but I could be very wrong. There are no other date codes on the piano. One thing I saw is that hand-written on the top front board that is removable is "#577" ...

I have some pictures up, too...

http://pics.livejournal.com/brun_fid/pi ... 0/s640x480
http://pics.livejournal.com/brun_fid/pi ... z/s640x480
http://pics.livejournal.com/brun_fid/pi ... 7/s640x480
... and super-hi-res of the one with the markings...
http://pics.livejournal.com/brun_fid/pic/00020537

Any ideas?

Thank you!

[Bill Kibby]

That particular logic doesn't work, the piano is more likely to be from around the first world war. The transfer inside the top mentions exhibition dates, so the piano is after those. Having lifted the top, if you look to the right, there should be a serial number on the vertical surface, by the tuning pins, with about 5 digits. This will help - if it hasn't been defaced. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/reports.html

[jjkatz]

The 53577 number is what is stamped on the inside-right of the piano. It is also stamped on a few other components, including the removable lower panel.

[Bill Kibby]

Sorry, I must have been a bit dense yesterday, it is a 5-digit number, and suggests 1911.