I am hoping to buy a used Mason & Risch piano, but have researched the makers and found quality dropped dramatically after they were bought out in 1948. So we're trying to determine the age of this piano, but I spoke with the current owners over the phone, and they have found several different numbers. Stamped onto the wood backing that is attached to the soundboard is the #28815. Stamped right onto the first hammer is the #102642. They also found the #34430, but I can't remember where they found that number. ) They found a patent #34451, but I'm not sure that has anything to do with the age. There was also the date 1900 stamped on the back of the soundboard or something, but I think it might have been in reference to the patent???

Lots of confusion here, can anyone help me out and let me know how old this piano is, whether it's from their good or bad years??

Full size upright or smaller console style?

www.silverwoodpianos.com

62" in length, I think that's full size?

This is a grand then at 5’ 2’’?

# 102640----1959-60
# 28815-----1912
# 34430-----1918
The S/N is usually found stamped in the wood amongst the tuning pins. Cabinet style and height can help you. Bigger and fancier usually older. Small furniture types newer.

Those were the same dates I was coming up with in the Blue Book, and as you can see, there's a huge discrepancy!

Sorry Silverwood, i misunderstood the measurement you were looking for. It's 62" left-to-right (ie across the keyboard), it's an upright. i checked google images to compare full-size and console type, and it's definitely a full-size. It's pretty plain in presentation, looks very similar to the first one described here (middle one in the smaller thumbnails across the top of the page):

http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/grades.html

And how cool that of the two people that have replied, one is from Vancouver (where I was born and raised) and the other is from London (where I lived and taught for two years). Small world!

Ok you will want a technician to check the pin torque on this one. The patent number that you have given( if I am remembering this correctly) is the patent number for the interlocking pin block assembly, that Mason & Risch used around the first war. Most of the instruments with that assembly that I have seen, the structure has failed by now. (Pin block separation from the rear plank.) Now I am not stating that this one is like that, but have the pin torque checked for a minimum 60lbs. of resistance and/ or remove the top board and inspect the top of the plank.

When my family owned Silverwood Dairies, I lived in both Hamilton and London too……. and a lot of other places in Ont……….. it is a smaller world than you might think…..cheers,

Www.silverwoodpianos.com

I don't know why it takes six posts for someone (Dan) to bring up the fact that you ned to call a local technician to check out the piano you are thinking of buying.
Age in itself means nothing.

In used pianos, the mantra is:

Condition, Condition, Condition.

True, Jurgen. But in my own defense, the piano used to belong to a tuner, who sold it to his neighbor when he bought himself a mini-grand four years ago. He died in a biking accident just a few months later, so it hasn't been tuned since then, but I checked it out, and it sounds great, doesn't even sound out of tune (although I'm sure a professional would listen with a much more discerning ear than me). So knowing the history and having played it myself, I'm pretty confident of the general condition of it. What Dan mentioned about the pin block does concern me though, so we'll be getting it checked now for sure.

PS I know the "story" about the tuner and his death is true, because he used to tune our church's pianos...

And then you will make a more informed decision. The only confusion was in the serial dating. If it was a small upright, the thread would have taken a different turn. I would have told you to pass, it would have been late model Mason & Risch……..

www.silverwoodpianos.com