Estey serial numbers & dating.
Half a million reed organs from Brattleboro — the 1855–1901 serial milestone ladder is published.
Estey of Brattleboro, Vermont (from 1852) built an estimated 500,000+ reed organs before the line ended around 1961, and also built electronic organs in the twentieth century. The good news is physical: Estey almost always glued its branded label to the top of the sound board, visible once the back panel is off. Look for a 5–6 digit number — four digits or fewer is a construction number, not a serial.
Serial number lookup
7 published dating blocks across 2 model series, covering 1855–1955.
Where the serial number lives
- Branded label on the top surface of the sound board — remove the rear panel (and possibly a layer of dust).
- Serial: 5–6 digits. Numbers of 4 digits or fewer are construction numbers, not serials.
- Reed-organ makers generally: number stamped or stencilled on the rear frame or panel.
Era markers
| Era | Years | What it means on the instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Reed organ era | 1852–~1961 | ~500,000+ instruments; production ends around 1961 (the shop was bought by Mason & Hamlin interests) |
| Electronic era | 20th century | Estey also built electronic organs; the museum collection covers them |
Coverage by model
Other
| Model group | Coverage | Dating blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Estey & Green melodeons (4-digit serials) | 1855–1863 onwards | 1 |
| Estey / J. Estey & Co. / Estey Organ Co. reed organs (5-6 digit serials) | 1880–1955 onwards | 6 |
| Estey electronic organs (1954 onwards) | no published data | 0 |
Blocks are envelopes of owner-reported registrations, verified against date codes by the submitters — not factory ledgers. That is why every result carries a confidence level.
Model catalogue
3 documented models — 2 with published production years (observed 2026-10-12). Years are catalogue-derived; models without published years are listed as placeholders.
| Model | Years | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estey Organ Company (Jacob Estey, Brattleboro VT) | 1852–1961 | Company | founded 1852; roughly 500,000+ reed organs produced; production ended around 1961 ('Mason Buys Estey Organ Shop', 03.11.1961) |
| Estey electronic organs | 1950–1961 | Era | Estey built reed, pipe and electronic organs; the Estey Organ Museum keeps a section for organ restorers |
| Estey reed-organ serials live in the Reed Organ Society database | — | Note | reed-organ serial/date research is published by the Reed Organ Society (reedsoc.org) rather than by any manufacturer |
What it is worth
- Pump organs are usually give-away instruments; restored examples find buyers in the parlour-organ niche.
Frequently asked
Why is my Estey number only four digits?
Because it is a construction number, not a serial. Serial numbers are 5–6 digits.