To determine the age of the piano, the exact company name will give a ball
park idea of the age - which will determine if the piano has 5 to 5 1/2 or 6
octaves.

For example:  1) Astor, John, Jacob - German, came to America as a fur
exporter in 1783.  He imported Broadwood pianos from England.  He may have
put his name on some of these pianos.  Later, in 1828, an Astor piano
company was formed in New York.

              2) Astor, George (1794 - 1830) London, England. (John, Jacob's
brother)  Formed a piano company in London.

These were known as:

                i)  1799 "George Astor & Company"
               ii)  1815 "Astor & Horwood"
              iii)  1822 "Astor & Company"

Depending on the year the piano was built - 1780 to 1810 the piano went from
5 to 5 1/2 octaves, and by the 1820's to 6 octaves.

from: Piano Keep
      Vern Enyedy
      Box 1893
      Revelstoke, B.C.
      V0E 2S0
      604-837-2120  Phone or Fax
Jim & Sharon