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Essex

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What Year Was My Essex Piano Made?
(Serial Number Lookup + Guide)

DIRECT ANSWER

An Essex serial number can usually place the piano within an approximate production range, but it does not normally establish an exact manufacturing year. The number is typically stamped on the cast-iron plate near the tuning pins, inside either an upright or grand piano.

Essex does not publish a comprehensive year-by-year serial-number chart. Serial numbers generally increase over time, but the result should be treated as a production-era estimate rather than a definitive date. Original purchase records or dealer documentation may provide a more precise date when needed.

ESSEX SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL

Essex

WHY EXACT DATING IS LIMITED

Unlike legacy manufacturers that maintained detailed production logs, Essex operates under a modern global manufacturing model.

Limitations exist because:

  • Steinway does not release full Essex serial datasets
  • production is handled by external factories rather than a single historic facility
  • serial numbers track production flow, not detailed metadata like date or location

 

As a result, Essex serial numbers function more like batch identifiers than precise timestamps.

WHERE IS THE SERIAL NUMBER ON AN ESSEX?

ESSEX GRAND PIANOS

  • open the lid
  • look inside near the tuning pins on the cast iron plate
  • the serial number is stamped directly into the metal frame
Close-up of the serial number on an Essex grand piano.
In this close-up of the same piano, we can see the serial number on the lower left.
An Essex grand with the lid open, revealing the location of the serial number.
On this Essex grand, the serial number is visible on the plate, close to the keys.

ESSEX UPRIGHT PIANOS

  • open the top lid or front panel
  • locate the cast iron plate inside the cabinet
  • the serial number is stamped on the plate, usually near the tuning pins
Close-up of the serial number and model number on an Essex upright piano.
In this close-up of an Essex upright, we see the model number (EUP-123) and the serial number below it.
Essex upright piano with the lid open and front removed, revealing the serial number location.
In this Essex upright with the lid open and front removed, you can see that the serial and model number location is near the top, between the bass and tenor sections.

Important identification note:

  • Essex serial numbers are consistently found on structural metal components, not on exterior wood panels.

Do Not Use These Numbers

  • Model numbers such as EUP-111 or EGP-155.

  • Cabinet markings or numbers found on exterior wood panels.

  • Letters before or after the serial number.

  • A number obscured by lighting, glare, or the plate finish.

  • Steinway as the manufacturer selection for an Essex piano.

What an Essex Serial Number Can Tell You

An Essex serial number can usually indicate the piano’s approximate production era and relative age within the Essex line.

It does not usually establish the exact year, month, or date of manufacture, and it may not identify the specific factory in every case. A serial number alone also cannot determine value; model, condition, and the local market still matter.

Essex Piano History

Essex is a modern piano brand designed by Steinway & Sons as a more accessible instrument line. Its design specifications are developed by Steinway, while manufacturing has been carried out primarily by Pearl River Piano Group.

The brand is sold through Steinway-affiliated dealer networks and follows a modern, large-scale production model. Its serial-number system therefore reflects manufacturing workflow rather than the detailed archival records associated with many older American piano makers.

Reviewed by Joe Kemple, Master Piano Technician, Burd and Sons Piano Service · Updated September 2026

HOW WE DATE AND VALUATE PIANOS

Our database includes Essex piano serial numbers across all production years, covering both grand and upright models.
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