> As for the manufacturing date of a piano, do you know of any
> other source besides the Piano Atlas?  I have a player that was made by
> Chas. T. Orth, S/N 136966. I suspect that this was not a big manufacturer
> since the name is only painted on the surface of the plate rather than
> cast-in.  Also painted on are "Milwaukee - New York" and "New Scale".

From what I have observed tuning pianos over the past 40 years, I would
doubt that the piano was made by Chas. T. Orth.  Being a "stencil
piano," i.e. with the name stenciled or painted on the plate rather
than cast, it was evidently made by a larger (as indicated by the
6-digit serial number) manufacturer to be sold in a store operated by
Chas. T. Orth.  Many stores ordered pianos from, among others, Kohler
Industries of New York, to sell under the store name.

If the words, "New Scale," are cast into the plate in the upper left
and the plate is open around the tuning pins (rather than just holes
for individual pins), I would suspect that the piano was made by the
Dayton outfit in Dayton, KY.  Their players used either Standard or
Krell (with pneumatics facing the keyboard) actions.

You mention the date  1 08 19 in the casting.  It was common for the
foundries to include the date of casting in the mold.  If 1919
coincides with data for Dayton Piano Co., you have found your
information.

Bill Maxim, RPT¶
Serving South Carolina from Greer and Columbia¶
Satisfying discriminating musicians since 1955