If the serial number is not in this location, but you find a 3- or 4-digit number elsewhere on the piano, it is likely the serial number. Chickering did not begin applying case numbers until after this period. Case number, not the serial number. We have a Chickering parlor grand piano, serial number 89576. This piano dates to around 1898 based on the serial number. I am grateful to the Castle Museum, York, for copies of a list of piano serial number dates compiled by Mr D.R. Serial numbers were in a variety of places.
Of the pianos made these days, which is the best?
Over-all, the answer is 'Yamaha' (Yamaha Website). Quality for the price, it can't be beat. I have tuned hundreds of pianos and the tone quality of a Yamaha grand is unsurpassed. Next is Kawai, Young Chang, maybe Samick (because of warranty), and then Baldwin (top of the line only). Petrof is a very good piano, but prices have gone very high in recent years. They are not cheap. Then of course Steinway. The legend of pianos is the Bösendorfer. If you can afford one.
Now, before you through away your old Winter, or some other generic piano, cheer up-- if you've been tuning the piano faithfully, and if it hasn't been stored in the barn, you probably have a pretty acceptable instrument anyway.
So go on home, call a tuner who has a positive attitude, and ask him to bring your old relic back as best he can. You will be surprised what can be done. If the tuner tells you to haul it to the dump, call or email me. I will try to help you find a fellow with a better attitude.
HERE IS A LIST OF PIANOS ACCORDING TO QUALITY
You need to understand that this list does not take into account the condition or care the piano has had over the years.
Exceptional quality
Christifori
Steinway & Sons
Boston
Grotrian-Steinweg
Bosendorfer
Bluthner
Bechstein
Yamaha
Erard
Falcone
Mason & Hamlin
Baldwin
Knabe
Gaveau
Chickering
Kurtzmann
Sohmer
Schimmel
Petrof
Better than average
Kawai
Samick
Feurich
Bauer
Acrosonic by Baldwin
Pearl River
Knight of the UK
Story & Clark
Broadwood
Krakauer
Behr
Brinkerhoff
Ibach
Labrousse
Broadman
George Steck
Sohmer
Schiller
Hardman
Hamilton
Haddorff
Mehler
Ivers and Pond
Henry Miller
Janssen
Weber
Playel
Brambach
Everett
Jesse French
Wegman
J & C Fischer
Useful though not exceptional
Weaver
Winter Musett
Wurlitzer
Hobart M. Cable
Lester
Gulbransen
Samick
Cornish
Wissner
Mehlin & Son
Kranich & Bach
Hackley
Laughead
Ackerman
Collard
Price and Teeple
Poole
Kimball
Hinze
Hall
Stetson
Stieff
Cable-Nelson
Kohler & Campbell
Huntington
Cable
Cable Nelson
Conover
Betsy Ross
Low Quality
Aeolian-
This company bought defunct piano companies, some in the above lists, and used the names on their pianos to hide their low quality pianos. Beware-- Check a piano atlas to see if Aeolian bought the piano name of something you are considering buying.
Chickering Piano Serial Number Location
Winter- Not Musette
Grinnell
Conn
Lowrey
'Grand' ( Brand name on cheap upright company )
Any piano made in Utah
Any Bird Cage Action piano ( Exception- German )
Any piano with an aluminum harp (plate)
Shannon
Chancellor-- From Ireland-- Operated by hot air-- True!