Bentley what age?

Ask questions on piano history and the age of your piano.

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WHISPER
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Bentley what age?

Post by WHISPER »

Our piano tuner found a date on the board behind the pedals 30.11.34
- we were told the piano was 1936 /8. He also found on the last two
keys 11164 and on the back board 12073. Any ideas of age please?
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Bentley what age?

Post by Bill Kibby »

There are a lot more problems in this statement than first appear. I will
take a deep breath and try to cover them.

I don't know exactly what you mean by "backboard", #12073 suggests
a 1922 piano, but pianos often have several different numbers.
I don't think the Bentley name was used before 1930.

I don't know what "the board behind the pedals" is, but anyone can
write a date at any time, it doesn't mean the piano existed in 1934.
It may not even be a date.

30.11.34 looks more like a casting date for the iron frame, in which case
the piano would have been completed within about 5 years of that date.

Who told you the piano was 1936 /8? I would expect a number in the
region of 38000.

Numbers on the keys will have meant something to the key makers at
the time, but we rarely have information that makes any sense of them.
However, you should read my Datemarks page at pianogen.org
Piano History Centre
http://pianohistory.info
Email via my website.
If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
WHISPER
Junior Poster
Junior Poster
Posts: 11
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 12:44

Re: Bentley what age?

Post by WHISPER »

The guy we bought the piano from told us the age, how he had worked it out is unknown to me. The board that the pedals are under, where your legs go, is where the fuller date was written. Although it looked like a full date it may be something else. it was inside stamped there. I will look at other numbers but It is sooooo confusing all the numbers lead to different things. it would have been nice to know but that knowledge may be out of reach. Thanks for trying to help us.
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