Some did this to keep the competition confused as to unit output; pianos were as competitive then as computers are today.I had never come across a piano action such as this one so I purchased the instrument and brought it to my shop.This was a plate instrument with the open pin block and a small Victorian sounding board.
I found that previous to manufacturing their own line of pianos Mason Risch sold pianos for mainly American piano manufacturers in 1871. By the year 1877 Mason Risch had developed several design patents and were manufacturing their own pianos. It is called a Brevet; I have not been able to find much information about this action. One is the Illimitable upright piano action that has 3 springs instead of the usual two. ![]() This creates tremendous stability in the instruments design quality. Mason And Risch Piano S Serial Number For ThisAlong with that the serial number for this instrument is listed as the first entry for the year 1913. Sometimes when doing a restoration of a piano, I have come across an obsolete piano decal that is no longer made. Many of these are piano decals that are not visible until the cabinet is opened or dismantled. Mason And Risch Piano S Full Size UprightHere is a piano decal that can be found under the top board of a Heintzman Co full size upright. At one time this decal was unavailable; I can obtain a new replacement, but the cost of the new replacement, plus installation, amounts to the same cost or more of restoring the old decal. This is a tricky process, it only works with some decals, sometimes the process damages the decal too much, sometimes especially with thick old varnish it does not work at all. Here is the link for the photo album and the text below each photo. For most of the older instruments, this is simply a point of interest. For others, serial number dating can be the confirmation to purchase the item, or steer clear of it and purchase something else. These books are printed on a yearly basis with the previous years information updated or corrected as the publisher re-prints from year to year. The sources of information for the publishers of these books are the manufacturers of pianos or other sources like museums or historical piano collections. This is why there are several atlas publications one can purchase. Some cover the serial numbers of instruments from other continents in a more complete way than the domestic publication. ![]() Mason And Risch Piano S Series Of SerialIn the early days of piano making some companies switched to a different series of serial numbers every year and did not keep the same sequence.
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