wtorek, 20 marca 2012

Erard serial numbers

When I bought my Erard piano (nr 38180), I tried to find its age. Internet is full of quasi-exact dating of Erard pianos, but in fact the doubts are huge. So, I decide to make my own research and put together all documented facts about relations of Erard serial numbers to years of production. I have used different sources, so I am only a compiler, but not the author of information. So, if you need to date your own Erard piano, you can use this table.


As we know, Erard is not only a person, but a piano factory with long and rich history. It was located in Paris, France, but also the London branch was very active and existed during many years.

The problem of Erard's numeration is that from the beginning (ca 1780) to 1808 Erard used the different numeration for every type of musical instruments he had produced. So, we have different numeration for square pianos, for grand pianos of old type, for grand pianos of new type etc. After 1808 Erard decided to standardize his numeration and used the numeration of square pianos - the main type of his production before 1808. Only Erard's harps continued to have their own numeration.

The Erard's factory in London has its own numeration, so it's important to determine where the piano was made.

Erard made his first grand piano in 1797 (the other sources give us the date "ca. 1790"). The first square piano - in 1777.
Legend:
The number(s) - the date (more or less exact) - the type of piano (when is known).

The earliest numbers of Erard's pianos are following:

Pianos "en forme de clavecin" (old model):
1-70 – 11 February 1798 – 14 January 1801
28 – 1800
55 – 1801
71-209 – 12 January 1802 – 24 August 1806
86 – 1802
133 – 1803
210-263 – January 1807 – December 1809
264-394 are not exist (= 1-131 of "new model")

Pianos "en forme de clavecin"(new model):
1-131 – 1810 – 13 September 1816
395-410 – 25 January 1816 – December 1817
411-447 – January 1818 – September 1819

Unified numbering:

1293-4869 – 1788-1802
1672 – ca 1789 Square piano
1987 – 1791 Square piano

2036 – ca 1791 Grand piano
2336 – 1791 Square piano

2851 – 1794
3979 – 1799
4831 – 1801
4870-6800 – 8 January 1802 – 29 July 1806
4871 – 1802 Square piano

5233 – 1802
6800-10580 – September 1806 – 3 Jan. 1819
6850 – 1806
7098-7114 – October 1807 Square piano

7250-7282 – Ferbuary / March 1808 Square piano

7488 – 1808 Square piano

7752 – ca 1809 Square piano

8414 – February 1812 Square piano

8598 – ca 1812 Square piano

8927 – ca 1813 Square piano

10581-10662 – December 1819-1820
10663-11109 are missing or not exist
11110-12038 – 1820-1822
11492 – ca 1822 Square piano

12039-12972 – 1823 to June 1830
12758 – 1827 Grand

12831 – ca 1828 Grand

12964 – ca 1833 (or before) Grand

13076 – 1832 Grand

13093 – ca 1828 Grand

13143 – ca 1832 Grand

13236 – 1834 Upright piano (pianino)
13279 – 1834 Upright

13317 – 1834 Grand

13334 – 1834 Square piano

13392 – 30.07.1836 Grand

13484 – 1837 Grand

13725 – March 1836
13783 – 1836 Grand

13975 – ca 1840 Square piano

14100 – 1838 Grand

14195 – 1838
14230 – 1838 Grand

14404 – 1828
14440 – 1838 Grand

14731 – 1838 Grand

14769 – 1840 or 1838 Square piano

14832 – 1840
14854 – 1839 Grand

14932 – 1840 Grand

15181 – 1841 Grand

15348 – 1843 Grand

15582 – 1843? Grand

15621 – 1843? Grand

15830 – 1843-44? Grand

16043 – ca 1841 Upright

16100 – 1843
16406 – 1843 Grand

16427 – 1844 Upright

19143 – ca 1846 Grand

19333 – 1847
19366 – 1845 Upright

19367 – 1846? Grand

19436 – 1847
19450 – 1845? Square piano

19458 – ca 1847 Upright

19582 – 1847
19769 – 1847 Grand

20293 – 1847
21815 – 1850
23784 – 1852? Grand

23981 – ca 1853 Upright

24155 – 1853 Grand

24381 – 1853 Grand piano-harmonium
24598 – 1853 Grand pedal piano
25186 – ca 1855 Grand

26606 – 1856 Grand

27367 – 1856 Grand

33678 – 1858 Grand

36314 – 1860 Grand

41481 – 1868
53450 – ca 1880
54126 – 1880
56532 – ca 1882
56650 – 1882
60320 – 1885
68004 – 1892
80496 – 1901
86356 – 1903 Grand

88251 – 1905 Grand

90785 – 1906 Grand

96708 – 1909 Grand

104210 – 1912 Grand

105489 – 1914 Upright

106631 – 1912 Grand

115004 – 1920 Grand

Pianos made by Erard's factory in London:

74 – ca 1830 Grand
177 – 1832 Grand

698 – 1840 Grand

1243 – ca 1840 Grand

2911 – 1852 Grand

4140 – ca 1853-55 Grand

4395 – ca 1855 Grand

5862 – ca 1858 Upright
5964 – 1856 Grand

6562 – 1860 Grand

7283 – ca 1861
7441 – 1861
10394 – 1867 Grand

14508 – ca 1875

Doubtful Erard pianos known in USA (no Erard? not exact numbers? not proper date?):

4474 – ca 1825? Cottage piano
7764 – ca 1828? Upright piano

If somebody have his remarks, or more numbers / dates, let me know please.

5 komentarzy:

  1. HI,

    My name is Dave. I live in Houston, Texas, USA
    I have an Erard piano made in London.
    It's an upright studio piano, 7 octave.
    The serial number is 19389.
    I found a listing for London built Erards that date it around 1885.

    Thanks, Dave Jones

    OdpowiedzUsuń
    Odpowiedzi
    1. Thank you Dave. I'll put your information on http://arspolonica.ocross.net/erard-serial-numbers/ - the main Erard's numeration page.

      Usuń
  2. where can i find the serial number. i have an upright Erard..

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  3. I have just taken possesion of an Erard (London) concert grand. #9238 is stamped in multiple places, including the pin block. #66213 is stamped somewhat "over" 9238 on the pin block in a different fasion. Then #19549 is stamped on the key action. Can you help me find the age and more information on this beauty!. Many Thanks, Jenny. highnote.nz@gmail.com

    OdpowiedzUsuń
  4. I have just taken possesion of an Erard (London) concert grand. #9238 is stamped in multiple places, including the pin block. #66213 is stamped somewhat "over" 9238 on the pin block in a different fasion. Then #19549 is stamped on the key action. Can you help me find the age and more information on this beauty!. Many Thanks, Jenny. highnote.nz@gmail.com

    OdpowiedzUsuń