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I have recently purchased a c.1850 Collard and Collard (London) Pianoforte. I have located what I believe is the serial number in two locations on this instrument. Problem: Pierce Piano Atlas lists 5 digit numbers for this vintage instrument and the number I assume to be the serial number is a four digit number. I've been told that there are errors in the Pierce listing. Does someone have some helpful suggestions to make?

This is a 7' grand - bichord (two stings per key) - straight strung - two pedals, a damper and a "true" una chorda - a narrow steel plate (no sound holes like a cast plate) and three steel stabilizing bars that run parallel with the strings. It has 80 keys (CC to g4).

Collard and Collard was of course the later name of Clementi & Co., adopted after Clementi retired. Earlier this year I attended the "Square Piano Day" at Finchcocks in Kent; Leif Sahlqvist presented a paper on the numbering of Clementi pianos. You will find a link to a pdf of this presentation on the "Friends of Square Pianos" site, here:

http://www.friendsofsquarepianos.co.uk/finchcocks/

and at this link

http://www.friendsofsquarepianos.co.uk/the-clementi-page/

you will find an updated version of the presentation.

If you don't find all you need in this paper, I would suggest that you contact Mr Sahlqvist. You could probably contact him via David Hackett of the Friends of Square Pianos, whose email address is on the links above.