Hi to all MMDers -- In 020818 MMD I asked if anyone could help me with
the dating of a Weber Unika recently purchased by a friend of mine.
We found the following numbers:

 - serial no. of Feurich piano: 43039
 - serial no. stamped on mechanism board: 2547

Now, some people emailed me that, according to the Pierce Piano Atlas,
the serial number of the piano indicates it was built in 1927-1928.

Only today, I had access to my copy of Art Reblitz' magnificent book,
"The Golden Age of Automatic Musical Instruments".  Now, on page 105 of
this book, it is said that the first two digits of the number stamped
on the mechanism board indicate the year.  In the case of this
instrument the result is either 1925 (by mechanism number) or 1927
(by piano number).

Does anyone know if we have missed a number in the orchestrion or is
the theory about the four digits incorrect ?

Many thanks in advance,

Bjorn Isebaert
Zottegem, Belgium

 [ I think it's very likely that the 1927 Feurich was fitted with
 [ Unika parts from 1925.  My piano was built in 1931, according to
 [ its serial number, but it apparently sat idle until 1936 (this
 [ pencilled date was found on key #1), when the Ampico player was
 [ installed and everything was regulated.  -- Robbie