This article is dedicated to one of the largest, most famous and most successful piano brands in the world – Kohler & Campbell. By the end of this article, you’ll have learned all you need to know about this brand, including a brief description of models, serial numbers, how and where the pianos are made, specifications of the brand, orientational price of the models and other useful information that can help you decide whether the brand is worth your money and trust or not.

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kohler and campbell

The Kohler & Campbell brand 

Kohler & Campbell is one of the most famous and largest American piano-making companies. It has an amazingly rich history going back to 1896. Back then, the Kohler & Campbell Industry was established by John Calvin Campbell – originally a mechanic – and Charles Kohler in New York.

Campbell’s extraordinary skills and experience enabled him to come up with numerous breakthrough techniques of piano-making, which vastly and immediately increased the value of their models. While the quality increased rapidly, the prices not so much. Campbell made it the very essence of the company – “the best value for the dollar.” This definitely made the company a great competitor in the field of making and selling pianos.

Reportedly, the largest and most faithful customers of the company were the finest American piano manufacturers who carried and sold the Kohler & Campbell piano models in their establishments. Even nowadays it remained so, which is bulletproof evidence of the company’s quality.

Kohler & Campbell Pianos

Kohler & Campbell produces both vertical and grand pianos. You can even choose between two sizes of grand pianos. The pianos are classified into two categories – the New York series and the Millennium series. Both Series have six models of grand pianos, the Millenium series have eight models of upright pianos and there are four upright piano models in the New York series. Even though Kohler & Campbell is an American company, their pianos are made in South Korea. When they’re almost done, they’re shipped to America for the final touches, such as the action and tone regulation.

Piano Models

The Millenium Series
Grands
ModelHeightWidthWeightMarket piano price
KFM-85040 1/2″59 4/5″915 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KFM-70040 1/2″60 1/4″”816 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KCM-65040 1/2″48 1/2″790 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KCM-60040 1/2″59 4/5″794 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KCM-50040 1/2″59 4/5″672 lbsCheck on Klaviano
Verticals
ModelHeightWidthWeightMarket piano price
KM-121M47 ⅝”59″487 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KM-13151 ⅜”60 ½”569 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KM-24543 ⅞”58 ¼”452 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KM-24746 ⅞”58 ⅝”472 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KM-647F46 ⅞”58 ⅝”472 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KMV-52MD51 2/5″60 1/2″558 lbs.Check on Klaviano
New Yorker Series
Grands
ModelHeightWidthWeightMarket piano price
KIG-4839″57 ½”610 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KIG-5040 ½”58 ½””655 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KIG-5440 ½”58 ⅓”683 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KIG-5940 ½”59 ½”794 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KIG-6140 ¼”59 ½”789 lbs.Check on Klaviano
Verticals
ModelHeightWidthWeightMarket piano price
KC-118H46 ¾””57 ⅝”472 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KC-14242 ¾””57 ¼”445 lbs.Check on Klaviano
KC-243F43″56″445 lbs.

The Millenium Series Review

Since Kohler & Campbell has introduced their Millennium Piano Series, the music community has gradually come to an agreement that this brand is one of the greatest piano brands of our time. They deserve such a title namely for their wonderful low-tension scale design uniquely made for each of the Millenium Pianos sizes. Also, compared to the competition, the Millenium Piano Series has longer strings and a larger soundboard area, which ensures richer and fuller tone quality.

Each tone of the Millenium Series Pianos is very carefully adjusted, balanced and evaluated, which ensures a very even sound. This series stands between Asian and European brands – bolder and stronger compared to European brands, but gentler and more mellow than Asian piano brands. In comparison to the older Kohler & Campbell series, Millenium implements numeral improvements resulting in better overall performance, however, even pianos from before 1985 provide piano players with reliability and full functioning.

When it comes to the price of a used piano, it always depends on how the piano has been being used. Namely, how much it’s been damaged over the years and what kind of care it needs before it can be played (if any). Some very old pianos are in better condition than some new ones. This, of course, reflects on the price. Therefore, it’s not that easy to say how much a piano is worth. But based on the fact that this company tries to keep the prices reasonable and make their pianos available to the wide public, I’d say Kohler & Campbell is always a good choice. You can check the market prices of Kohler & Campbell piano models in the Klaviano Search Engine.

The first and highest criterium when it comes to piano-making is the final sound of the instrument. To achieve the perfect sound, a whole range of conditions has to be fulfilled. From the choice of material through mechanisms of their use up to the final touch, everything has to be done in a specific way.

The current series of the Kohler & Campbell pianos – The Millennium Series – is made of the finest time-tested materials, each of them coming from a different part of the world. The Millenium Series pianos embody over 300 years of experience, the result of which is not only extremely quality instruments, but also specific design. Different parts of the pianos come from five different countries. Namely, the exotic wood, such as Ebony, Bubinga, Mahogany, Meranti, and Agathis comes from Indonesia; spruce used to make the soundboard comes from Canada; the iron plate is from Korea, rim and pin block is made of the Rock maple from the Adirondack Mountains of Northeastern United States. Finally, all Kohler & Campbell Grand Pianos use the famous Renner Action and Hammers from Germany, which are usually used in the world’s most expensive pianos.

Kohler & Campbell Upright Pianos

With Kohler & Campbell vertical pianos, you can be sure you get the quality you ask for. They serve perfectly to a practising professional, as well as to a beginner. As it’s only a small size piano, we can’t expect the same intensity of sound or the same variety of sound colours as we get with a grand or baby grand piano. However, we still got perfectly balanced and weighted mellow keys, which easily serve their purpose. Also, as an instrument for practice or musical accompaniment, upright pianos are available for a much more reasonable price than the larger models. Kohler & Campbell Upright Pianos cost around $3,500 (2,900€) for a new piece.

Kohler and Campbell Grand and Baby Grand Pianos

The good news is that the company is one of the world’s largest makers of grand pianos. Therefore, they apply the economies of scale to make their Millennium Pianos the most affordable high-performance piano in the world. 

As I’ve mentioned earlier, there are two sizes of Kohler & Campbell grand piano. The standard Grand Piano usually serves for concert halls. Sound features of these instruments are accommodated to acoustic conditions of large spaces.

Kohler & Campbell Baby Grand Piano, on the other hand, is a perfect compromise between a grand piano and upright piano. Not only in terms of sound intensity, but also in terms of space. This piano can easily be placed in a household, or it can perfectly serve small concerts/performances. In a smaller space, it doesn’t take any of the sound quality, so I’d personally recommend it even to smaller music schools as a concert instrument. Not to mention that its unique design will give a touch of history and luxury to any room.

Kohler & Campbell Piano Serial Numbers

The company marks each of its models with a specific serial number. This can tell us how old the piano is because it’s marked according to the year of its origin. It begins with the number 10000, which stands for the year 1900, up to 795491, which marks pianos made in 1983. We can find this number either above the iron plate (on the left or right side) or on the inside cover of the instrument.

Read our article “How to find a serial number” to find out more. 

The list of the serial numbers together with the year of origin from 1900 to 1983 (click to open)

1900 – 10000

1905 – 46000

1907 – 80000

1909 – 105000

1910 – 116000

1911 – 127000

1912 – 164000

1913 – 150000

1915 – 165000

1916 – 179000

1917 – 190000

1918 – 198000

1920 – 206000

1921 – 210000

1923 – 223000

1924 – 237000

1925 – 237000

1926 – 240000

1928 – 258000

1929 – 264000

1931 – 267000

1932 – 268000

1933 – 270000

1934 – 272000

1936 – 276000

1937 – 278000

1948 – 403000

1949 – 406000

1950 – 408000

1955 – 503000

1958 – 521000

1960 – 535000

1961 – 542000

1962 – 551000

1963 – 560000

1964 – 570000

1965 – 579000

1966 – 589000

1967 – 601500

1968 – 611000

1969 – 621000

1970 – 631500

1971 – 643000

1972 – 653500

1973 – 660000

1974 – 683000

1975 – 695000

1976 – 708500

1977 – 712000

1978 – 722500

1979 – 737000

1980 – 754000

1981 – 767000

1982 – 780000

1983 – 795491

The new series has different serial numbers and these tell us the length of the piano. For example, SKG500S means the piano is 5 feet long (152,4cm), SKG600S is 6 feet long (182,88cm) and SKG800 is 7,1 feet long (216,4cm).

154 Comments

  1. I have what I believe is a 1913 Kohler & Campbell upright piano. The model looks like K77WZ, although it might say K11WZ, and the serial number is 15438 9. It works and is in decent condition. It is stamped that it was made for the severe climate of Maine. Is this worth anything? Thanks in advance!

    Jeff
  2. Hello,

    Looking at a baby grand with a player piano. Can you tell me the year of this piano? And also if the player piano feature impacts the sound and quality?

    Serial NO. IJRBG0113
    KCG450 Model

    Thank you!

    Courtney Connelly
  3. Hello,
    Could you please help me to find any information on when and where my grand piano Kohler & Campbell was manufactured?
    The serial number is KJKFG0031.
    Model SKG-500S.
    Thank you very much in advance!

    Natalia
  4. I just purchased a Kohler and Campbell baby grand, the paperwork shows the model to be a KIG-52 PE, with serial number IKMCG0402, but the piano that was delivered shows a serial number of IJMCG0402, not sure if this is a typo on the paperwork or the piano delivered isn’t what I actually purchased. Can someone please help and tell me what the significance is with the second letter being a J or K?

    Gina Nguyen
    1. Hi, Gina according to the information in the 1997 ‘Pierce Piano Atlas’: The first two letters determnine the year of manufacture and the third and fourth determine the month and model. Unfortunately, I don’t know if they still apply this rule….

      Anja
    2. This delivery of the Piano with IJM Serial # could be Fraudulent…!! The piano she purchased ,with the IKM Serial # is only 10 yrs. of Age. The Piano with the IJM Serial Number is 20 years of AGE…she must get back to her Retail Establishment immediately….

      F. Steve Malloy
  5. Hi,
    Just got this model SKG-400S. S/N: ISAG0294. It has a ‘Made in Korean’ tag next to the model number. May I know what year it was built? Thank you so much!

    Kevin
  6. I’m looking at purchasing a Kohler & Campbell baby grand from a private party. Model SKG600 Serial ILEG0080. I haven’t seen the piano. Could you please provide me information regarding size, age and value? We lost our home and possessions in a wildfire. My husband (who has recently passed away) had given me a baby grand as a 24th anniversary gift many years ago and I’m wanting to replace my piano. Thank you for your help.

    Barb
  7. Someone gave us a Kohler & Campbell KC245, serial number ILJ00323, Mahogany finish. How old is it? What is unique about the number 245 (as compared to 247, for example)? What does “HP” mean in the color code “MHY/HP”?

    Jill
    1. Hi Jill, congratulations on your “new” piano!
      Your Kohler & Campbell KC245 is 31 years old.
      The No. 245 in your piano’s model means that it is 45″ tall (the KC247 model is 1.5″ taller than your piano). The height of the piano translates into the length of the strings and the sound of the piano (a taller piano, meaning longer strings means a more “concert” piano sound).
      As for the “HP” in the color code I think it can mean the type of finish or gloss level.

      Anja
      1. We are still considering this piano as a used purchase. We are trying to decide between a 1981 5’8″ Viennese edition Kimball and this 5’10” Kohler and Campbell. We know that the Kimball uses a Schwander action, and we are trying to determine what action the Kohler & Campbell American made grands used. Can you tell us that? and what would you advise to choose between these two?

        Jacqueline Eden
    1. Hi!
      My Kohler and Campbell upright piano has a serial number of 186, 926 and was made in 1916.
      I could not find a model number to match it: height 55″, Width 63″
      Can you tell me the model number and where it was made?
      The person who sold it to me said it was an upright grand. Is there such a thing?
      Any estimates of its worth if it is in good condition or in fair condition?
      Thank you!

      Bev Haas
      1. Hi Bev, based on the serial number given I can tell you that indeed your piano was manufactured in 1916, in the US. You could try looking for the model designation on the piano’s frame – here’s exactly where to look.
        As far as upright grand go, they do exist (you can see what such models by Rippen look like here) but I don’t think I’ve seen one by Kohler & Campbell. If you can, send me a picture of this piano, maybe I can find more information about it.
        If you are interested in determining the value of this piano we offer such a service – find out more about it here.

        Anja
  8. Hi! I have a Kohler & Campbell KIG-47 with a serial number IJLDG00227. Can you tell me what year it is from? I cannot find any info online on that serial number. Thank you!

    Ilona
    1. Hello Hilary, I will try to help you. SKG-500S is the model designation of your piano. And IOGG0485 is the serial number, from which we can find out that your Kohler & Campbell was manufactured in 1995 in Indonesia.

      Anja
  9. We have a Kohler & Campbell baby grand with a large black string which I suspect is the S/N: IMHG0654. Can you tell any and all info about the piano based upon the S/N?

    Thank you.

    Jack
  10. I am looking at a Kohler & Campbell console piano that reads IEAA0140 stamped in large black print. I have not been able to locate such a serial number in any resource. Can you help. Looking to find the age of the piano. Thanks in advance.

    Dave
  11. Can you tell me when 539434 was manufactured? We were give a Kohler & Campbell with our house when we bought it. I know nothing about pianos except twinkle twinkle little star on a keyboard growing up. LOL! Just looking to find more information about this beautiful piano

    Amber
    1. Hi Zalmi, I can help you decipher the first 2 pieces of information.
      Model KC-142C – the name of the upright piano model with a height of 43″ (108 cm),
      S/N IJNB00262 – the serial number of the piano thanks to it we know that the piano was produced in 1999 in Indonesia

      Anja
    1. The serial number on my mom’s piano is 784015 Koehler & Campbell model # is 1801 what type of piano is it and what year is it pmease? Tks Tina

      Tina Martini-Keffer
  12. I would like to know the year my Kohler and Campbell upright piano was manufacctured. The serial number is 301854. This number does not appear in the above list of serial numbers. Thank you!!

    Marge Durdack
  13. We just picked up (for free) an old Kohler & Cambell upright New York piano (serial number 79043). It’s in great shape. We were told it was built in 1907. Where can we find information about it? Can anyone give us history of it?

    Urie Ridgeway
          1. I would like to know the year my Kohler and Campbell baby grand piano was manufacctured. The serial number is IJQJG0095. This number does not appear in the above list of serial numbers. Thank you!!

            Max Kendall

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