Hello. My brother just acquired a mid 20's baby grand piano built by the Premier Grand Piano Corporation of New York City. I would like to know where I can find some historical infomation on the piano and the company that built it.

Thanks in advance.

I actually would like the same information. I have a baby grand made by Premier Grand Piano Corp of NY that has been in my family since the 1940's. I can't find very much info on the internet, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

From the Piano Atlas:

Premier Grand Piano Company 510-532 West 23rd. St. New York. Est 1919. Manufactured by James and Holstrum after 1931. 5'3" grand advertised for $725 in 1925. Premier name was used by Mathushek Piano Company after 1931, and this ownership was then transferred to A. P. Brown, Long Island City, New York.

Serial numbers are listed for years 1920 through 1932. Post your serial number and I will look it up for you.

Enjoy!

Hi Steve,
The serial number on my piano is 39297. Although I haven't measured it, I believe it is a 5'3 (it's a little difficult to get in the corner where I have it...) Thanks for looking up the serial number for me!
Daniel

Thanks Steve,

The serial number on my brother's piano is 33746. I believe it is also a 5'3" baby grand. Thanks for your help.

John

Saw this post since I worked on a Grand Piano Company spinet today but it is not the same company. Anyway not to steal Steve's thunder but sn 33746 is from 1923 and 39297 is 1925. You may be able to get more information about the piano company by contacting the University of Maryland Howe Music collection which is a box inventory of donated piano catalogs, advertising etc. Send me an email and I will give you the exact internet address/URL

Thanks for the info JIMBOB. An email is on it's way. Much appreciated.

I know it has been a few years since this thread has been brought to the top but my wife just purchased her Grandmother's grand piano (I believe it was originally her Grandmother's Aunts piano) from her parents. It is a Premier Grand Piano Corp. serial number 32590.[/b]

We too are looking for information about the maker and the piano. We have twin sons that play (only one of them actively - the other one likes to play a little) and they are excited to be playing their Great-Grandmother's piano.

It is pretty dusty inside and I was wondering if I took a can of air and blew out the dust if it would hurt anything. It doesn't look like the inside of the piano has been touched in a very long time - but it sure sounds good when it is played (I don't have a trained ear though, just enjoy music). The outside of the piano has a few scuff marks here and there but all the keys are in great shape and the pedals work great.

We had it shipped to Southern California from Washington and we are so happy it made it in such good condition.

Any advice for first time piano owners?

Thank you in advance for any help or advice!

Cliff Watson

Welcome to the forum! Don't put the can of air too close to anything; some of those create a very cold stream of air.

The best advice I can give: buy and read "The Piano Book" (see the right edge of this page).

More info about the company may be available here:
http://pianoatlas.com/howold.html

See also:
http://ptg.org/resources.php

--Cy--

Cy -

Thanks for the response!! I went to the bookstore and got the book. After reading it, I didn't find anything in there about the piano maker with serial numbers. It only had "recent" maker information in it. I have to say the book is a throughly enjoyable read!! I couldn't put it down for close to an hour.

Thanks for the links - it was helpful in learning more about the company.

We have a piano tuner coming on the 1st of May to take a look at it, hopefully he will be able to shed some light on the subject!

Thanks again,

Cliff

Hi Cliff,

I looked your piano up in my trusty relic of a 7th edition Pierce Piano Atlas, and yours was built in 1922, probably toward the end of the year.

Even though it's been awhile, pqdtw's was 1925, and jjewell's was 1923.

OperaTenor -

Very Kewl!! Thank you very much!!

Now to get the tuners opinion on if we inherited a money pit. Hopefully not. It sounds really nice when it is played!

We purchased my son a book of Billy Joel songs and it is fun hearing him work out songs he has never heard before (he knows the popular ones, but there are some he hasn't heard.. (ahhh 16 year olds..) ... Once he gets the timing down, he does pretty good. He is looking forward to starting lessons again this summer. He only gets to take them for about 4 months out of the year because of all the sports he plays.

Anyway - thank you again OperaTenor... really appreciate it!!!

Cliff

De nada...

Sorry to dig this thread up from the grave, but I just purchased a Premier Grand 4'10" (Model R?) piano from craiglist here in Washington, DC and was trying to find out it's age as well.

For a $500 asking price I figured I couldn't go wrong, but I brought a tuner/tech with me to evaluate it before purchasing anyway and got a thumbs up.

I looked under the piano and the only numbers I could find were etched "12822" which I assume is the serial. Any additional informaiton would be appreciated.

Thanks so much!

I'm glad you did, because I have the same questions! Looking at a premier grand dated 1925 but don't know about the quality of the brand. Help!

Pierce's Piano Atlas shows serial numbers for Premiere Grand Piano Corp starting at #20000 in 1919.

If you look at the start of this thread, there was information about the company given, but it doesn't look like #12822 was a Premiere serial number. At least not under the Premiere name.

The age of your piano may remain one of the "great mysteries" since piano companies, in the early 1900's, changed hands quicker than cell phone companies do now.

I just purchased a Premier Baby Grand for my daugther, the serial number on it is 43113. Any ideals on the age? It has a great sound and look fairly good for what I am assuming is sixty to seventy years of age.

Regards,
Tim LeVrier

These notes are so helpful. I to am looking at buying a 1920s Premier Baby Grand. It is currently listed at $1,450. The "The Piano Book" (which is amazing) talks about piano living a human life span, so I am nervous about the piano being on it's last leg, so to speak. Any thoughts about how old is too old?

I would HIGHLY recommend you get hire a piano technician to look at the piano for you before making any decision. The likelihood of this piano costing more to move than it is worth is pretty great.

Thanks for your reply. The price of moving it is included with the purchase price! So that's the total cost. I went and played it. It sounds okay. Not a big sound, but all right. Very pretty cabinet that has recently been restored. BTW the move that is included with the price is about 200 miles. He seems eager to make the sale, should I be suspicious? He also seems like a nice guy. No pressure, etc. I could hire a tech, that is good advice. Thanks again for your response!

I would not recommend any of my customers buy a Premier grand for anything near that price.