Beale Piano Serial Number Lookup -
The original Beale factory in Australia closed its doors in 1975. The brand name was later acquired and used on pianos manufactured overseas (mainly in Asia, including by companies like Samick or Pearl River). Modern Beale pianos utilize a different serial number system, often starting with letters. If your piano has letters or a much higher digit count, it is a modern import. 3. The History of Beale Pianos
: Check the V-shaped area formed at the top of the frame between the bass and tenor strings.
Before you can start your research, you need to locate the serial number. Beale pianos typically have a stamped into the wood. Here are the most common places to look inside your upright Beale piano:
Lift the top lid; the number is frequently embossed or painted on the metal frame near the tuning pins. beale piano serial number lookup
Note: Beale production shifted over the decades, and official records can occasionally have minor overlaps. If your number falls between two listings, it was produced during that specific span of years. Serial Number Range Year of Manufacture 1893 – 1895 501 – 1,200 1896 – 1900 1,201 – 3,500 1901 – 1905 3,501 – 7,500 1906 – 1910 7,501 – 13,000 1911 – 1915 13,001 – 19,500 1916 – 1920 19,501 – 34,000 1921 – 1925 34,001 – 47,000 1926 – 1930 47,001 – 54,000 1931 – 1935 54,001 – 60,000 1936 – 1940 60,001 – 63,500 1941 – 1945 63,501 – 68,000 1946 – 1950 68,001 – 73,000 1951 – 1955 73,001 – 80,000 1960 – 1965 80,001 – 85,000+ 1966 – 1975 Modern Beale Pianos (Post-1970s)
This article serves as a guide to locating, decoding, and interpreting Beale piano serial numbers. Where to Find the Serial Number on a Beale Piano
Standard pianos use wooden pinblocks to hold the tuning pins. In hot, dry, or excessively humid weather, the wood expands and contracts, causing the piano to quickly slip out of tune. The original Beale factory in Australia closed its
The most common location is on the metal plate (the harp) near the tuning pins, usually in the top right or center. It may be stamped directly into the metal or printed on a label.
Use this historical production chart to match your serial number to its corresponding manufacturing year.
A is the single most effective way to determine the precise age, manufacturing year, and historical background of your Beale instrument . Whether you own an heirloom upright, a grand piano, or an antique player piano (pianola), cross-referencing your serial number against historical production logs lets you track your instrument's journey from the factory floor to your living room. Where to Find Your Beale Piano Serial Number If your piano has letters or a much
Unlike Steinway or Yamaha, there is maintained today. Most lookup data comes from compiled technician records and old price lists — authoritative but not guaranteed error-free.
If the serial number is missing or unreadable, estimate the age by:
A key innovation that set Beale apart was the , patented in 1902 and also known as the "Beale-Vader tuning system". This was a brilliant engineering solution designed to withstand the notoriously harsh and changeable Australian climate, which was a bane for traditional wooden-framed pianos. At the company's peak, it employed over 1,200 workers and produced every element of the piano in-house, from the iron frames in its own foundry to the veneers in its timber mills. The factory's versatility was so great that during World War II, Beale & Co. suspended piano production to manufacture wooden fuselages for the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft for the war effort. After the war, production resumed, but the company was eventually sold to W. H. Paling & Co. in 1961, with all Australian manufacturing ceasing by 1975. In total, it's estimated Beale produced an impressive 95,000 pianos in Australia.