Chappell and Co

[Amykins]

I have and old Chappell and Co piano and I have found the number on the inside of the piano and it's 05983. It's on the left top hand side (engraved in).

The Dampers are below the Hammers (This might help).

I was wondering the age of the piano. Is there any way of finding the history of a piano? Since the piano was only bought a year ago, I don't know very much about it and would like to know.

Thank you for anything you can tell me.

[dadistheroadie]

Having been a member of the forum for hours, I now consider myself an expert of course

I have used this site to find out the date of our recently acquired beastie, and hopefully this link will help you...

http://www.pianos.co.uk/info/pianos/c/chappel.php

I tried putting the serial number you provided into the magic box and it came up with 1841 to 1870 which at least ties it down to the odd 30 years...

I an sure there are greater minds that can help you further...

[Amykins]

Thank you. It really doesn't matter how long you've been on here because what you told me was handy.

Thanks!

[Bill Kibby]

A growing number of websites offer apparently simple dating of pianos by numbers. These dates are based on books, which in turn quote from other books which are often wrong or misleading. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/piano ... mbers.html

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/reports.html

[Amykins]

I have looked for other numbers but there is only one other and that is 1975 and that is on the (forgotten the name, heh) metal bit under the keyboard. Where would the real one be?

[Bill Kibby]

I can't recall seeing a Chappell underdamper made before about 1910. Serial numbers do not begin with a zero, it could be a letter O for a dealer's stock number. Normally, if you open the top, you should be able to see the number easily, but it isn't always that simple. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/datem ... ianos.html

[Amykins]

Okay, thank you. It's always nice to know stuff like this about your piano. It doesn't really matter how old it is, I love it anyway!

Thanks again!

Ps. Are hammers and dampers restored or replaced if the piano has had fire damage to it?

[Bill Kibby]

Surely that depends on whether they were damaged?

[Amykins]

Yeah, stupid question. lol. Anyway, thanks for the help!

[Amykins]

I found one, It's 42760. It that the right number, it was on the sound board. Just very well hidden.

[Bill Kibby]

That number suggests 1905, a little earlier than any Chappell underdamper models I've seen, but perfectly possible.