[CAUT] Suspicious Serial Number

[Tim Coates]

Thank you Nevin! Music in song is such a powerful message. This song really
brought a smile to my face this morning.

Tim Coates

On Sun, Feb 14, 2010 at 11:09 AM, nevin essex <nevin.essex at gmail.com> wrote:

> Good song to go along with this story:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYZ_ZDCZK60
>
> On Sat, Feb 13, 2010 at 3:59 PM, Jeff Tanner <tannertuner at bellsouth.net>wrote:
>
>>  I tuned an old Baldwin M yesterday. Second time I've seen it. But the
>> piano was bought over the internet. The lady had really wanted one of my new
>> pianos, but her husband said they couldn't afford a new one. He told me they
>> "got a really good deal" on the piano, this being the second grand piano in
>> two years they'd bought this way. The first, a 1903 Apollo cost them $200
>> plus $1200 to get it shipped from Michigan. It couldn't be tuned outside the
>> two or three middle octaves and actually fell right in the floor one day.
>> So, they tried their internet luck again, and found this Baldwin. The seller
>> delivered the piano from several states away, in person. Claimed he was
>> selling it for the owner, who'd owned it for 50 years but was now deceased
>> and had serviced it for the owner for years.  Anyhow, the pins are extremely
>> loose and it really needs restringing, so I got to looking for the serial
>> number. The 4 digit number stamped in the plate triangle under the "M"
>> couldn't have been right, even though it looked like a first digit may have
>> been somehow erased, which would have made it a 5-digit number. I figure it
>> was a production number. So, I looked under the soundboard where Baldwin
>> usually stamps the model and serial number. The wood felt really smooth
>> there. It had obviously been sanded away.  Inside the action, there were two
>> different versions of serial numbers. On the keyframe, I read 130493 - no
>> numbers anywhere close to the number on the plate. Likewise on the back of
>> the keyslip, the same number. Now, in these two places, the 1 almost looked
>> like it could have been stamped in there later because it wasn't as deep in
>> the wood, and it was cleaner than the others. In other locations, the
>> keyframe, keyblocks and fallboard, only 30493 was stamped.
>>
>> If the correct number is 30493, the piano was made in 1917. If the 1 is
>> correct, that bumps it to 1955. Unfortunately, I don't see enough old
>> Baldwins to be able to know what kinds of other characteristics to look for
>> to be able to confirm a vintage. I would assume it to be possible, if not
>> probable, that Baldwin "evolved" the M scale between 1917 and 1955. Of
>> course, I realize that isn't all that significant. I actually became
>> more curious about the serial number and why there would be what looks to be
>> an attempt to disguise the identity of this old piano.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>> Jeff Tanner
>>
>
>
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