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What Year Was My Story & Clark Piano Made? (Serial Number Lookup + Guide)
DIRECT ANSWER
Most Story & Clark pianos can be dated by their serial number, but the brand’s long history has two very different eras.
The original Story & Clark Piano Company made American pianos for nearly a century. Its primary serial-number sequence runs from the late 1800s through the company’s 1984 factory closure. Production resumed under new ownership in 1990 with a completely different serial sequence beginning at 700001.
For the most reliable result, enter only the piano’s actual serial number—the number stamped on the cast-iron plate or frame. Do not enter a model number, patent number, cabinet number, or the separate number belonging to a player-piano system.
HOW STORY & CLARK SERIAL NUMBERS WORK
Story & Clark used a largely chronological numeric serial-number system during its original American manufacturing era. A lower number normally indicates an older piano, while a higher number indicates a later one.
There are several important details to keep in mind:
- Original American-made pianos: The main sequence covers instruments built from the late nineteenth century through 1984.
- Production interruption: Story & Clark’s original Grand Haven, Michigan operation closed in 1984. There were no regular Story & Clark pianos made under that original sequence during the following years.
- Revived Story & Clark pianos: When the name returned in 1990, the published serial sequence restarted at 700001 rather than continuing from the earlier American-made numbers.
- Modern instruments: Later Story & Clark pianos were made to company specifications by different Asian manufacturers and may have labels, model codes, or player-system components in addition to the piano’s serial number.
Our lookup is designed around the serial number stamped on the piano itself—not the model designation and not the serial number for a QRS PNOmation or PNOscan component.
WHERE IS THE SERIAL NUMBER ON A STORY & CLARK PIANO?
UPRIGHT, CONSOLE, AND SPINET PIANOS
On most Story & Clark vertical pianos, the serial number is inside the upper portion of the case.
- Lift the top lid above the keyboard.
- Look directly at the cast-iron plate near the tuning pins.
- Check the upper right and upper left areas of the plate, as well as the center.
- The correct number is usually stamped directly into the metal or printed on a small factory plate.
If you see several numbers, use the one that is clearly associated with the piano’s cast-iron plate or structural frame. Numbers on keys, action parts, pedal mechanisms, and cabinet pieces may be internal part numbers rather than the piano serial number.
GRAND AND BABY GRAND PIANOS
On a Story & Clark grand, begin by opening the main lid and looking near the tuning pins.
- Safely support the lid with the long prop stick.
- Slide the music desk toward the keyboard and remove it if necessary.
- Look along the cast-iron plate, especially on the treble side near the tuning pins.
- The serial number is normally stamped into the plate or shown on a small identification plate attached to it.
Do not confuse the serial number with the model name. A designation such as H48, H60, H80, Prelude, or another cabinet/model label identifies the style or size of the piano; it is not the number used to date the instrument.
STORY & CLARK PIANO SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL
Determine the approximate year your Story & Clark piano was made using our serial-number database.
Choose “Story & Clark” from the dropdown menu, then enter the serial number exactly as it appears on the piano.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A STORY & CLARK LOOKUP
A successful lookup can help identify:
- The approximate year or production range for an original Story & Clark piano.
- Whether the instrument falls within the original American-made era or the later revived Story & Clark era.
- The historical context behind the piano’s manufacturing period.
A serial-number lookup cannot confirm:
- The exact model, finish, scale design, or original sales price.
- Whether a piano was rebuilt, restrung, refinished, or extensively repaired after it left the factory.
- The value or present condition of the instrument.
- The serial number or age of an added player-piano system.
COMMON STORY & CLARK IDENTIFICATION MISTAKES
- Entering a model number: A model designation is not a serial number. Enter the stamped production number from the plate or frame.
- Confusing a cabinet label with the brand: Over the years, companies connected with Story & Clark also used names including Gulbransen, Hobart M. Cable, Hampton, and Classic. Use the brand name printed on the piano’s plate or fallboard.
- Using a number stamped on a removable part: A number on an action part, key, pedal assembly, or cabinet component may not be the factory serial number.
STORY & CLARK PIANO HISTORY
Story & Clark is one of the older names in American piano history. Hampton L. Story began his work in the piano trade in the nineteenth century and joined with Melville Clark in Chicago in 1884. The Story & Clark name became established in piano and organ manufacturing during the following decade.
The company expanded into piano manufacturing and, in 1901, established a major factory operation in Grand Haven, Michigan. From there, Story & Clark produced upright pianos, player pianos, baby grands, and larger grand pianos for generations of American homes, schools, churches, and music studios.
Melville Clark left the piano company in 1900 to focus on player-piano technology. He founded QRS, the company that became widely known for piano rolls and later for modern electronic player-piano systems. That connection became especially significant decades later.
Key points in the Story & Clark timeline include:
- 1884: Hampton L. Story and Melville Clark formed the Story & Clark partnership in Chicago.
- 1895: The business was reorganized as the Story & Clark Piano Company.
- 1901: The company established its Grand Haven, Michigan factory operation.
- Early twentieth century: Story & Clark expanded its offerings to include player pianos and grand pianos in addition to upright instruments.
- 1962: The company was acquired by the Lowrey Organ Company.
- 1984: The original Grand Haven operation closed.
- 1990: The Story & Clark name returned under new ownership, using a restarted serial-number sequence beginning at 700001.
- 1993: QRS Music acquired Story & Clark, reconnecting the piano brand with the company founded by Melville Clark.
Today, the Story & Clark name is associated with acoustic pianos and QRS technology, including modern player-piano and recording systems. That is why a newer Story & Clark may combine a traditional acoustic piano with electronic components that are not present on an older American-made instrument.
Our database includes serial-number coverage for original Story & Clark pianos and the restarted early modern sequence. Later modern instruments may require additional identification from their model and factory information.
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