Baldwin Organ Serial Numbers
Howard Pianos History
Established in 1895, the Howard Piano company began as a piano manufacturer in Cincinnati, Ohio. Often confused with R.S. Howard pianos, the Howard Piano Company was a subsidiary of Baldwin Piano Co. In 1959, Baldwin began making in-home organs with the “Howard” name. [1]
By 1960, many of the grand pianos were made by Kawai and later Samick. When Gibson Guitar purchased the Baldwin Piano Co., the Howard name was also acquired and used for some pianos produced after 2001.
About Howard Piano Company. The Howard piano name was used on a variety of different styles produced Baldwin Piano Company and Gibson Guitar pianos. Many of the early Howard pianos prior to 1959, were assigned the name “Acrosonic” pianos. The serial numbers for Howard pianos manufactured from 1959-1968 were for vertical pianos made in the. Oct 28, 2014 Baldwin piano serial numbers The Tuner's Blog The Piano Blog of pianology.co.uk. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where. Discover your Piano’s Age and Country Of Origin with our 5 Star Accuracy Guide to ensure the quality and reliability of each result. The one I played had a very low serial number, and had come to the market in 1946. Yes there were a few others such as a Wurlitzer ES organ that sounded better to me than the fuzz, buzzy Baldwin. I only noticed the fuzz more so in the swell manual. Many of the Wurlitzer ES organs seem to need a tech more often than other brands of organs.
About Howard Piano Company
The Howard piano name was used on a variety of different styles produced Baldwin Piano Company and Gibson Guitar pianos. Many of the early Howard pianos prior to 1959, were assigned the name “Acrosonic” pianos.
The serial numbers for Howard pianos manufactured from 1959-1968 were for vertical pianos made in the Conway, Arkansas factory for Baldwin pianos. The Howard pianos were offered as a more affordable option to some of the expensive and higher-end Baldwin pianos. Still known as a reliable and durable piano, many Howard pianos can be found in relatively good condition today. [2]
Restoring a Howard Piano
Determining whether a piano is worth restoring can be a difficult decision. Many Howard pianos were middle-tier pianos in their heyday in the mid-1900s. To determine whether your Howard piano will increase in value if restored by Lindeblad Pianos, contact us today.
Contact Lindeblad to learn more!
References:
[1] Pierce, W. Robert. Pierce Piano Atlas: Anniversary Edition, 2017 Our 70th Year. Albuquerque: Ashley, 2017. Print.
[2] http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/agesh.htm
Baldwin Pianos are a musical legacy that for over a century, continues to live on. Each piano that carries the name Baldwin, is a piece of that legacy which has contributed to American piano history and manufacturing.
Company History
The company was founded by Dwight Hamilton Baldwin in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862. Also known as D.H. Baldwin, the name has always been one of the most widely renowned names in the American piano industry and history.
The company originally began as a retail enterprise, who sold Steinway and Chickering pianos. They began manufacturing their own pianos in 1889, as 'D.H. Baldwin & Co.' In 1903, shortly after the founder's death, the name became the Baldwin Piano & Organ Co.
Baldwin also manufactured pianos under the names Acrosonic, Chickering, Ellington, Franke, Hamilton, Howard, Kremlin, Manualo, Modello, Monarch, St. Regis, Sargent, Schroeder, Valley Gem, Winton, and Wurlitzer.
Recognition and Design
In 1904, the Baldwin piano was awarded the Grand Prize at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo., and another Grand Prize was also awarded to the Baldwin pianos and Manualos at the Anglo-American Exposition, London, 1914.
The Baldwin piano is recognized as a universal favorite between the leading operatic artists and virtuosos of the pianoforte.
The Baldwin Grand Piano, which was designed, manufactured and guaranteed by the Baldwin Company in Loveland, Ohio, is exclusively enjoyed by top tier of artists in all areas of musical expression – ranging from pianists, composers, conductors, singers, and instrumentalists - as well as outstanding symphony orchestras all over the globe.
Baldwin Pianos:
Modern Times
Baldwin purchased the Wurlitzer and Chickering names in 1988, but in 2008, both names ceased production. Samick (Korea) manufactured pianos with the DH Baldwin name in the 1980s, as pianos were purchased by Baldwin and sold through Baldwin dealers.
Baldwin Organ Serial Numbers Chart
Around the decade of the 1990’s, the company was sold and relocated to Arkansas and Missouri. Today, Baldwin is owned by the famous Gibson Guitar Company (in 2001).
The following brands have been in use or are in development by Gibson, since 2003: A.B. Chase, Aeolian, Ampico, DH Baldwin (built in Arkansas since 2004, discontinued in 2008), Cable, Ellington (2003, made in China), Hamilton, Howard grand pianos, Ivers & Pond, J & C Fischer, Kranich & Bach, Monarch, Mozart, Pianola, Pianovelle, Sargent.
In 2006/2007, Gibson purchased the Dongbei Piano Group, the third biggest Chinese piano maker in the world.
In 2008, Baldwin moved all production of pianos to factories in China (owned by Gibson Guitars, Nashville, TN). Pianos are manufactured there for the US market, the Chinese domestic market, and other international piano markets.
Baldwin ceased piano production at its only remaining U.S. factory in Trumann, Arkansas in December 2008. This facility remains open as a US distribution and service center.
Without any doubt and dispute, from the nine-foot concert grand to the five feet, two inch baby grand, every Baldwin piano demonstrates the most modern ideas of acoustical science and piano making; its manufacture is precision engineered, which gives each instrument the highest degree of excellence. Any Baldwin made piano is worth the time, money and energy to rebuild or refurbish.
Find the age of your Baldwin piano using the serial number chart found below. The serial number indicates the start of the year shown.
Where Is The Serial Number On A Baldwin Piano
1890 - 1100 | Baldwin vertical pianos, serial numbers: Models up to 42' tall 1984 - 1343955 Vertical piano serial numbers: Model 248A Pro, 48' tall 1990 - 427993 Baldwin vertical pianos 44' tall and up: Models 6000, 5050, 248 (after 1993), 243 1984 - 387119 Baldwin Acrosonic serial numbers 1895 - 2000 |
Baldwin Organ Serial Numbers History
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