If you own a Beale piano (or have inherited one from a grandparent), you are sitting on a piece of Australasian music history. Beale was a dominant force in piano manufacturing from the late 19th century well into the 20th century.
| Age Range | Typical Value & Condition | |-----------|---------------------------| | Pre-1920 | High antique value if restored; often overdampered (hard to tune). | | 1920–1950 | "Golden era" Beale – desirable; may need action rebuilding. | | 1950–1970 | Solid mid-century pianos; low monetary value but good for learning. | | Post-1980 | Usually Korean/Chinese stencil; not same quality as old Beale. | beale piano serial number lookup
Beale sits between “forgotten brand” and “documented brand” — usable but not definitive. If you own a Beale piano (or have
Located in Sydney, the APM holds the most complete collection of Beale original ledgers. They offer a paid lookup service. You email them your serial number, and they will search the handwritten records. This can tell you: | | 1920–1950 | "Golden era" Beale –
The following table provides approximate manufacture years based on the starting serial number for that period. Note that these are estimates, and records can vary slightly between sources. OVERS PIANOS Serial Number Serial Number 28,093 (est.) 94,983 (Last No.) Identifying "Beale-Vader" Systems Beale pianos history 8 Jun 2000 —