(Photograph courtesy of John Perschbacher.)

Raised lettering on piano plate in National automatic piano #794. Here the raised lettering for the brand name, "National Automatic Music Co.," is centered on an elevated decorative cartouche located in the upper right-hand corner of the plate casting. The plate color is perhaps best described as greenish gray with decorative gold pinstriping. The plate color is very similar to that used in some early Wurlitzer coin piano plates.

(Photograph courtesy of John Perschbacher.)

Painted serial number on piano plate in National automatic piano #794. The painted serial number is on a flat area of the plate, just to the right of the bass section tuning pins. The white paint provides a high contrast when compared to the dark greenish gray color of the piano plate.

(Photograph courtesy of John Perschbacher.)

Calligraphy on the non-branded piano plate in National automatic piano #1485. The beautifully ornate calligraphy stands out in stark contrast against the light gold background. It reads as follows: "Property of National Automatic Music Co., Grand Rapids, Mich." This plate may have been made by the same manufacturer as the above example colored greenish gray. This is speculation, but there are many similarities between this unbranded plate and the above branded plate, suggesting that both came from the same foundry.

(Photograph courtesy of John Perschbacher.)

Upper part of piano plate in National automatic piano #1485. In this view, showing the full width of the upper part of the plate, the painted serial number is in the traditional location—just to the right of the bass section tuning pins. However, the painted digits are smaller than in the previous plate example painted greenish gray, and in this instance they are painted in black, so as to provide contrast against the light gold color of the piano plate.

(Photograph courtesy of Dana Johnson.)

Raised lettering piano plate in National automatic piano #7173. The late plates, used for National pianos with serial numbers in the 6,000 and 7,000 range, had a 30-note mid-section and raised lettering for the brand name, "National Automatic Music Co.," with the lettering painted black. This provided good contrast against the gold colored background. Being that the stringing scale and plate casting have significant differences from the earlier plate styles, it is likely that the late plates came from a different foundry.

(Photograph courtesy of Dana Johnson.)

Painted serial number on piano plate in National automatic piano #7173. For the late piano plates, the painted serial number was located mid-way between the bass section tuning pins and the mid-section tuning pins, and it was placed within an oval opening in the plate.