HOW OLD IS MY PIANO?
FREE PIANO IDENTIFICATION & SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL
What Year Was My Sohmer Piano Made?
(Serial Number Lookup + Guide)
DIRECT ANSWER
A Sohmer piano can usually be dated by its serial number, especially if it was made during the company’s main New York production era. On most grands and uprights, look for the number stamped on the cast-iron plate near the tuning pins.
Later Sohmer production is less straightforward. Published serial-number charts end at serial 241180 in 1982, so a higher number may identify the piano only as a later production instrument rather than provide an exact year.
SOHMER SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL
Important notes for Sohmer pianos:
- Enter numeric serial numbers only
- Do not include anything after the # sign, as that refers to the model number
- Ignore any large raised numbers (see pic below), as they also reference the model
WHERE IS THE SERIAL NUMBER ON A SOHMER?
SOHMER GRAND PIANOS
- Open the lid and inspect the cast iron plate near the tuning pins. The serial number is typically stamped directly into the plate, usually in the bass section.
SOHMER UPRIGHT PIANOS
Open the top lid or front panel. The serial number is generally stamped on the cast iron plate inside the piano or stamped into the wood (see photo) through a hole in the plate.
In some cases, it may also appear on a metal badge or stamped into interior wood components, though the plate marking is the most reliable reference point.
DO NOT USE THESE NUMBERS
Do not include numbers after the # sign; on the pictured upright, they identify the model rather than the serial number.
Do not use large raised numbers on the plate; they also refer to the model.
Do not use action, part, or cabinet numbers in place of the main serial number.
If the number is unclear, do not guess from a partially visible digit.
WHAT A SOHMER SERIAL NUMBER CAN TELL YOU
A Sohmer serial number can usually identify the piano’s approximate manufacturing year or production era, particularly for earlier New York-made instruments.
It cannot normally establish the exact month or day of manufacture, the original dealer or owner, optional equipment, or whether the piano has later been rebuilt or restored. For serial numbers beyond the published 1982 charts, the result may be a broader period rather than a precise year.
SOHMER PIANO HISTORY
Sohmer & Co. was founded in New York in the late 19th century and became known for well-built American uprights and grands.
The company’s principal manufacturing period was in New York.
Earlier New York-era instruments generally follow the published serial-number sequence more closely.
Later ownership and manufacturing changes made late-production serial numbers less consistent and harder to date precisely.
Reviewed by Joe Kemple, Master Piano Technician, Burd and Sons Piano Service · Updated September 2026
Our database includes Sohmer serial numbers across its major production eras.
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