Hi - we have recently been given an RS Howard New York Upright Piano with serial number 47268, we were wondering where we can find out information in regards to how old it is or any other history about it? Thank

According to Pierce Piano Atlas, your piano was made in 1920. RS Howard was one of several names on pianos made by Janssen Piano Co. Charles Walter bought Janssen in 1970. Interestingly, another name on Janssen pianos was Wissner. The piano I grew up with was a Leckerling Piano, also made by Wissner, from 1911. It was a spectacular old battleship of an upright piano that needed tuning only every 10-20 years or so. (In an earthquake, I would have taken cover underneath it.) Have fun with your new piano! I bet it's a good one, from the great era of the big old uprights, even if on the market it probably has little or no value. They are handmade tough instruments, great for learning on!

Was this supposed to be a joke?

Actually, no, it is not a joke. The Leckerling I grew up playing was in my parents' incredibly dry city apartment from 1959-1984. (They had bought it in the 1940's for $50 or so.) It was tuned in 1965, which I remember because it was during the first big blackout in New York, and the tuner finished the job by candlelight. It was tuned maybe one other time after that. I moved it some 100 miles to my house in 1984, and had it tuned upon arrival. It was not out of tune, although I had it tuned anyway. I played it happily until the mid-90's; it was tuned once at most during that time, as it simply never went out of tune. In 1995 or so I had some minor work done on it when a couple of very high notes started sticking, and gave it away in 2006 to a family that needed a piano. And in case you are wondering, no, I am not tone-deaf, actually I have very sensitive ears to pitch as the technicians who work with my current piano would tell you.

I guess I'll just say "wow"!