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I got a modern walnut bench to match an antique walnut piano. It goes well.

Thank you!

I had totally forgotten about Craigslist, good call. I'll definitely look there. I wanted to ask you, if I find piano tuning tools on ebay, what are some good brands to look out for?

Did you buy the bench online or see it in person?

Schaff, Hale and probably AMS piano tools are probably common but there are also no label ones that are decent for hobby use. I’d look for an older one with a longer wooden or nylon handle, maybe the kind with a removable/interchangeable tip. Avoid the gooseneck type or brand new made in China ones.

I'm one of the others that's also restoring an 1890 Ivers & Pond upright.

Regarding the serial number, I don't think the number under the keys is a serial number. Your serial number is likely stamped up on the plate somewhere. Mine is right under the Ivers & Pond lettering on the plate above the strings. You can see the 8190 stamped in there. Usually the serial numbers on pianos are somewhere in that plate / string area. I've been told that 1890 started with serial number 7000, 1895 was 16000, and 1900 starts at 24000. These 3 data points actually are pretty linear over that 10 year period of time, so I performed a linear interpolation calculation with my serial number and determined my piano was likely a 2nd half 1890 piano.



I also emailed Schaff to see if I could buy direct from them and was quickly told "no". They recommended Howard Piano in Wisconsin, and I had already been in contact with him (Just for your reference, he also has a ton of videos on youtube for various repair tasks - that's where I discovered him). Steve from Howard Piano has said he is willing to help out when it comes time to getting a custom set of new hammers from Schaff and bass strings as well. I also purchased "Pianos Inside Out" as a reference manual, and may purchase more literature as I go.

It would be nice to be able to get myself setup as a technician in Schaff's eyes to get better pricing, but in reality, I don't plan on doing piano technician work for others, just for my own pianos.

Hey, nice to meet another Ivers and Pond owner Thank you so much for the information!

I think you might be right about my supposed serial number. I've looked all over the plate for anything stamped, but haven't found a number yet. I will say I have not yet taken out the action, so it could be hiding under there.

I'm starting to think the plate in my piano is not original. I say this mainly because all the photos of the plate I've seen of older Ivers and Pond look like yours and have much more text than mine. Mine simply reads "Ivers and Pond Co." Followed by the number 11. Or of course my piano might not be as old as I'm hoping haha. I will get better pics of the plate and rest of my piano asap. It's a lot of fun uncovering the past history.

I too have ordered some literature from Howard Piano and I find those youtube videos super helpful! I would like to try to learn how to repair and regulate/tune my piano in time.

I couldn't see the images you shared because it says the links are broken or the image is unavailable. With this forum, if you create a post in the photo gallery section, you can upload the images directly to the piano world forums in that post, and then you can use the URL of those images in other forum posts to make sure they are always visible. You may want to go back and host your images that way.

Sometimes pianos will have the serial number visible through a window in the plate where it is actually marked on the wood behind the plate. I know that the Ivers & Pond name was around for a long time, but the company was sold off around the time of the depression, and the name carried on for branding purposes by the manufacturers that bought them out.

I don't know if you have pictures of the plate / tuning pin area to see if there are any other numbers visible that could be the serial number. Most Pianos usually have them somewhere in that general area.

Hmm that's so weird that the links are broken. When I view this thread on my phone I can see them, but not via the computer. Anyway, thanks for the tip to use the photo gallery.

So last night I took the action out. I found no serial number behind it, but when I was looking around I noticed something interesting in the plate. Lo and behold, I found the "Ivers and Pond Co. Boston" logo with a serial number stamp, but the serial number is blank/hard to read or has been painted over(?) The plot thickens!

Here is the pic of what I found, very hard to read. You think someone would take the plate out and paint it? Perhaps the newer manufacturer did this?



And this is the left side of the plate/frame. This reads "Ivers and Pond Piano Co. 11"



And the front view

This pic might be a little easier to read.

Interesting. The bottom lettering appears to be "and Co Boston".

You might try taking or converting to a negative image to see the printing.

I read it as "Ivers and Pond" on the top row and "Piano Co. Boston" on the second row. I didn't even know it was there for weeks, even looking straight at it haha. So it very well could have the "and" in there.

I'm going to try and take a high definition photo later. Maybe I could try to do that pencil rubbing technique.

Oh good idea thanks! Hopefully MS Paint has those functions available.

I tried increasing the contrast - I am not sure that this actually helps much!

You might try a bright light, something like a reading lamp which shines brightly in a particular direction, and then varying the direction where the light comes from. Maybe light from a specific direction would make this clearer to read.

Thanks for doing that. I'm trying the same, but with reversed colors next. Maybe that'll help. If not I'll definitely grab a lamp and take some better photos.

If the letters are raised, you might run over them with colored chalk to enhance the numbers.

I have a feeling the numbers are not raised, but I will definitely give that a try. When I look really hard I think I see a number 6 or 8 in the No. spot. It's almost like when adhesive leaves a residue.


Here is a pic with the colors inverted. Kind of helps...a little.

They have been painted over. I would try a cloth with some lacquer thinner. Rub the surface lightly to try and take the top spray off but not digging in so hard as to remove what’s underneath. Your number might be revealed.

Very gently !!

Okay I'll use that as a last resort so to speak. Thanks. I will definitely be as gentle as I can be.




Thanks for everyone's help so far! I'm super curious as to what the serial # could be.

I tried several different techniques, including the pencil rubbing and using various lights at different angles. My fiance and I were able to see what we believe to be either "4366 or 4356," but were unable to capture a pic that could show that. It's so faint that to say it could definitely be one of those numbers is still a guess.

Im curious as to why the serial number would not be engraved/embossed in the metal like most I see online. I'm thinking I might need to ask an antique piano specialist for help to see if my piano is 1880ish old and was refurbed or some kind of remake?