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What Year Was My Cable-Nelson Piano Made? (Serial Number Lookup + Guide)
DIRECT ANSWER
To find the year your Cable-Nelson piano was made, you must use the Cable-Nelson serial number sequence, which tracks the brand’s long history under several major American and international manufacturers.
Most Cable-Nelson pianos can be dated to a specific year using the serial number. However, accuracy can vary slightly depending on:
Production era (Early independent Chicago production vs. later Michigan-built eras)
Corporate ownership shifts (The Everett Piano Company acquisition in the late 1920s, Hammond ownership in the 1960s, and later Yamaha oversight)
Model type (Mainly spinets, consoles, and studio uprights, alongside select small grand pianos)
Cable-Nelson serial dating is highly reliable because the brand remained tightly tied to the clear record-keeping of its parent facilities—particularly the Everett factory in South Haven, Michigan.
HOW CABLE-NELSON SERIAL NUMBERS WORK
Cable-Nelson used a generally straightforward, continuous sequential numbering system over its lifetime, though shifts occurred when factories relocated.
Instead of a fragmented system, the structure follows this path:
Serial numbers are sequential within defined manufacturing eras.
When Everett acquired Cable-Nelson in 1928, the numbering became integrated with or ran parallel to production records maintained at the South Haven, Michigan plant.
Digits are strictly numeric and typically range between 5 and 6 digits long.
In practical terms:
Most Cable-Nelson instruments map cleanly to an exact manufacturing year.
Letter prefixes are uncommon on classic American Cable-Nelson plates; you should focus entirely on the stamped digits.
The numbers strictly reflect production sequencing rather than specific model lines or cabinetry styles.
WHERE IS THE SERIAL NUMBER ON A CABLE-NESLON?
Cable-Nelson serial numbers are stamped directly onto the cast iron plate or onto a dedicated area of the wooden back structure inside the instrument.
CABLE-NELSON GRAND PIANOS
Lift the main top lid and secure it safely with the prop stick.
Look past the music desk down at the cast iron frame near the tuning pins.
The serial number is stamped cleanly onto the gold metal plate surface.
You may need to slide the wooden music desk toward you and temporarily remove it to get a clear view of the frame area right behind the keys.
CABLE-NELSON UPRIGHT PIANOS
Open the top lid of the piano cabinet.
Look straight down into the interior at the gold or bronze-painted cast iron plate.
The serial number is typically ink-stamped directly into the metal frame, often located near the tuning pins on the right-hand side or stamped in the center area near the upper treble strings.
On some older models like our example below, you may also find the number stamped into the wood of the top spine or the back rim.
CABLE-NELSON PIANO SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL
Important note for Cable-Nelson pianos:
Select “Cable-Nelson” from the manufacturer dropdown menu below and NOT Cable, Conover Cable, or Hobart M. Cable.
WHAT YEAR IS MY CABLE-NELSON PIANO? (WHAT TO EXPECT)
After entering your serial number, you can typically determine:
The exact manufacturing year of your Cable-Nelson instrument.
Its corresponding era of American manufacturing history (Pre-depression independent era, post-war Everett era, or late 1970s corporate era).
Its exact sequencing position within the factory’s historical annual output logs.
However, the serial number will not provide:
The specific day or month the assembly was completed.
The exact retail dealership where the piano was originally sold.
Detailed material specs regarding the specific wood veneers or action components used.
COMMON CABLE-NELSON SERIAL NUMBER MISTAKES
Common issues when identifying Cable-Nelson piano age include:
Confusing a part number, case number, or a 3-to-4-digit casting number on the back of the wood or iron for the unique serial number.
Confusing other independent brands containing “Cable” (such as Cable & Sons, Hobart M. Cable, or the main Cable Company of Chicago) with the specific Cable-Nelson registry.
Misreading worn, faded, or dusty ink stamps on the metal plate.
If your result seems out of place for the visual style of your piano, double-check the plate stamp and ensure the fallboard brand mark reads explicitly as Cable-Nelson.
CABLE-NELSON PIANO HISTORY
The Cable-Nelson Piano Company began operating in Chicago in 1903, initially established by Fayette S. Cable. Following a partnership change in 1905 with the Nelson interest, the company officially took the name Cable-Nelson.
The brand earned a solid reputation for producing reliable, well-constructed, affordable mid-market instruments. Key historical phases include:
1903–1928: Independent Chicago operations, with early serial numbers picking up around the 26,000 range.
1928–1954: Acquisition by the Everett Piano Company, moving all operations to South Haven, Michigan. Cable-Nelson served as Everett’s prominent house brand for durable, high-value home consoles and spinets.
1954–1981: Transitions through parent corporate ownerships, including the Meridian Corporation, the Hammond Organ Company (1962), and eventually Yamaha (1973).
American production under the historic Cable-Nelson registry drew to a close in 1981, leaving behind a massive legacy of dependable home and studio instruments.
Our database includes Cable-Nelson piano serial numbers across all major production eras and instrument types.
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