Beale Piano Serial Number Lookup ((free)) Link

How to Date Your Beale Piano: A Guide to Serial Number Lookup

By The Piano Archives Team

If you own a Beale piano (or have inherited one from a grandparent), you are sitting on a piece of Australasian music history. Beale was a dominant force in piano manufacturing from the late 19th century well into the 20th century.

But how old is it? Is it a pre-war heirloom or a 1970s model? The answer is stamped inside your instrument. beale piano serial number lookup

Here is the definitive guide to looking up your Beale piano serial number.

2. Behind the Top Door (Kneeboard)

On upright Beales, you may need to open the top front panel (the "top door"). The serial number is sometimes stamped on a small wooden label or directly into the wood near the action (the felt hammers and mechanical parts). How to Date Your Beale Piano: A Guide

2. Books with Beale Serial Data

• The Piano in Australia by Geoffrey Lancaster (limited serials)
• Australian Piano Manufacture by M. J. E. W. (out of print but in libraries)

Step 2: How to Perform the Beale Piano Serial Number Lookup

Once you have the number, the lookup process begins. Beale does not have a live, public online database like a carfax for pianos. However, several authoritative sources exist.

Part 6: How to Read a Beale Serial Number (Visual Inspection Tips)

Once you find the number, examine its physical characteristics. This tells you if the number is original. The Piano in Australia by Geoffrey Lancaster (limited

• Hand-stamped vs. Machine-stamped: Numbers from 1895-1920 are often hand-struck. Look for numbers that are not perfectly aligned (e.g., one digit slightly higher). That is a good sign of authenticity.
• Pencil vs. Ink: Numbers on the wooden action frame are often written in soft pencil. Pencil fades over 100 years. If the pencil looks bright and new, it is a recent addition (fake).
• Cast-in numbers: Some very late Beales (1970s) had serial numbers cast into the iron plate as raised digits, not stamped. That is rare but authentic.

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Step 3: Verify Using Other Clues

If the serial number is missing or unreadable, estimate the age by:

• Piano style – Victorian fretwork (pre-1910), Art Deco (1920s–1930s), plain modern (post-1960s).
• Action type – Beale used Schwander, Herrburger-Brooks, or their own "Beale Action."
• Decal/logo – Early Beale logos say "Beale & Co. Sydney"; later just "Beale."
• Pedals – Two pedals (most uprights) or three (grands and later models).

4. Paid Lookup Services

Some piano appraisal sites (e.g., Total Piano Care UK or Piano Age Calculator) offer paid serial searches – but verify they have Beale data first.

Step 3: What If My Number Isn't On The List?

There are three common reasons for this:

1. Imported Stencil: If your number is very high (200k+) and the piano feels newer, it may have been built in Asia (Korea or China) under the Beale name after the original Australian factory closed. These were built between 1990 and 2005. For these, look for a "Made in Korea" or "Made in China" stamp.
2. Two Different Numbers: Sometimes you will see a "Case Number" and a "Strike Number." Use the shorter, stamped-into-metal number, not the ink-stamped one on the back of the action.
3. Worn Away: If the stamp is rusted or painted over, you may need a technician to look near the bottom of the tuning pin block (wrest plank) for a handwritten pencil date.

3. Direct Email Inquiry (Low success rate)

Try: info@bealepianos.com.au – but note that modern Beale (imported stencil brand) may not have access to old records.