The website is edited by larry fine, an author of the piano book, a. The company was founded in 1823 by jonas chickering and james stewart, but the partnership dissolved four years later. The chickering grand pianos with 4digit serial numbers are only infrequently encountered. Manufactures of grand, square, and upright, piano forests it will thus be seen that the two most important improvements in the development of the modern piano, from its early inadequacy to its present completeness and beauty, both emanated from the american house of chickering sons, and may be justly termed the chickering system. Where yours is will depend on the age of your piano since styles and sizes changed. It is variously attributed to silbermann and frederici and was improved by petzold and babcock. Chickering s placement of serial numbers on its earliest square pianos was not consistent.
Its a rare, antique piano of the precivil war era c. Rare 1860s raven and bacon square grand piano original condition, local pickup. This area is accessible by simply lifting up the top lid as shown. The serial number of this piano dates it in the 1830s, very early for the firm. Out of stock late model chickering victorian square grand piano. Fur elise played on 1853 chickering square grand piano. Chickering quickly became one of the largest and most successful piano manufacturers of all time. Where is the serial number on a chickering square grand piano. Brazillian rosewood is the coveted hardwood by which all other tone woods in the world are judge. We believe that education is a vital part of that mission.
You can look up a free piano serial number history search from this page see list of. Manufactures of grand, square, and upright, piano forests classic reprint paperback april 19, 2018. Nov 20, 2011 i own an 1883 chickering square grand piano and the serial number was branded into the wood behind the keyboard. This portion of our website is designed to help educate the consumer about what is really involved in the restoration and preservation process. Haines brothers was known for building high quality, lovely sounding instruments and they. Here is a chickering square piano that looks really old that i might be able to get for very little to none. On your upright, the serial number is almost always on the wood or iron frame inside the piano above the tuning pins. Jonas chickering took the design a stage further and most other manufacturers followed suit. Chickering square grand piano historically significant antique piano shop this is one of the earliest chickering square grand pianos we have seen come through our shop. Looking to down size and i do not play very much anymore. But because the full grand was the default for chickering, it was not always indicated that is, no indication of size in the ledgers means full grand.
For the first 20 years, they built a nice selection of square grand pianos before building their first upright pianos in 1870. I made inquiries about taking it over, but never heard back from the owner. There are a lot of myths about square grand pianos that are simply untrue. Its estimated that itll cost at least 2300 to fix it soundboard and strings. This beautiful chickering square grand piano was built in. Square grand piano value whats your square grand piano worth. Chickering piano, old song, vintage books, musical instruments, magazines, sons. Was chickering still chickering in 1932 or was it part of aeolian.
Our available chickering pianos include a range of types, costs and conditions. I was browsing a piano forum one day and clints website appeared, so i. Buyer will need to arrange and pay for moving fees. This beautiful chickering square grand piano is the ultimate collectors item. This circa 1880 square grand piano was just restored by the crew at antique piano shop in friendsville, tennessee. The history of the piano traces back more than 3 centuries, and chronicles how the piano, most popular instrument in existence, continues to be the premiere instrument as we enter its fourth century. I have a pdf file of the entire commeorative book produced for the companys centennial in 1923 which i could send you if you will pm me your email address. Also in 1837, chickering attempted to patent a full iron frame for square pianos but was refused on a technicality. This piano is made of brazilian rosewood, now an endangered species, and is of the carved rococo victorian style. Our mission at antique piano shop is to promote restoration and preservation so that these heirloom instruments will not be lost forever.
Chickering and sons pianos company history total piano care. This hazelton brothers square grand piano was purchased at cluetts in albany, n. Chickering was the first piano manufacturer in america, established in 1823. Piano restoration clients beautifully restored pianos craftsman. In 1837 alpheus babcock began working for jonas chickering and worked there until his death in 1843. This book is a beautiful volume of pictures and piano history. As late as 1868, 80 percent of steinways output was still square pianos. For example, in the sample below, the ledgers indicate that piano 35930 was a full grand chickering s term for their largest grand, what is commonly called a concert grand today.
Haines brothers piano company was established in 1851 by napoleon j. It appears to have been rebuilt and refinished probably in the 1960s to early 1970s with new tuning pins, strings, damper felts and keytops bringing a new life to this instrument. They were used by the greatest composers of the 18th century including bach and mozart. Instead of setting the strings side by side, the company introduced substituting an arrangement of the string in two banks, one over the other. Discover your pianos age and country of origin with our 5 star accuracy guide to ensure the quality and. Used chickering grand piano for sale chickering pianos duration. The value of a specific piano model may be determined on the basis of the price shown. The ivory and ebony keyboard is a full how to learning piano awesome key.
Jonas chickering also invented a new deflection of the strings and in 1845 the first convenient method for over stringing in square pianos. This guide listed below is designed to give information about specific american piano manufacturers and more, during the last 183 years or so. Hello all, i drove 2 hours to look at a lester baby grand on monday and it was a bust. Working condition just needs to be tuned buyer responsible for shipping. Archives center, national museum of american history. Pianos are known for their durability, but over time gradual. In 1840 he patented a complete metal frame for the square piano and then applied the 1840 knowledge to the grand. It is the most complex mechanical device in any home and is capable of fulfilling the players. The company experienced changes in ownership and manufacturing management throughout the years although never failing to produce high quality musical instrument that the company name is best. Manufactures of grand, square, and upright, piano forests classic reprint paperback april 19, 2018 by chickering and sons author see all. Rare antique chickering square grand piano for sale.
This section lists the average resale prices for used pianos. London 17991815 james buchanan 15th was the first to have a grand piano, a chickering boston, 18231983 abraham lincoln 26th had both a chickering square and upright. As a rule of thumb, if you are researching a grand piano, it will have a 5 or 6digit serial number. Chickering and sons pianos company history serial numbers. What is the value of your chickering and sons piano serial. It is a beautiful instrument that has working soft and sustain pedals. Chickering piano prices and value upright, grand new, used. By johann schanz anglicized to schantz to capture the pronunciation this grand is spectacular.
The square piano is a type of piano that has horizontal strings arranged diagonally across the rectangular case above the hammers and with the keyboard set in the long side, with the sounding board above a cavity in the short side. Mar 26, 2005 there was a site devoted to chickering history with a registry of owners, but it is now defunct and offline. Antique pianos, grand pianos, upright pianos, square grands pianos, complex machines with thousands of moving parts, are also works of art. The firm was originally established in boston in 1823 by jonas chickering and his partner james stewart under the name of stewart. Do you know of any places that would buy this piano or consignment. The chickering square grand piano was one of the most popular instruments in american homes during the 19th century. Grand, square, and upright piano fortes sons, chickering. Even these days, when cheap secondhand pianos are in plentiful supply, having been. Schubert played on 1853 chickering square grand piano duration. Chickering pianos are a popular choice for students, home enthusiasts and professional musicians alike. I did, however catch wind of a chickering baby grand circa 1932 serial 149718. See more ideas about chickering piano, piano, grand piano. Piano serial numbers identify the 1 age of your piano, the 2 piano s year of manufacture, as well as 3 the circumstances surrounding the production of your piano, including factory history, manufacturing processes, and company ownership and oversight. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where.
I own an 1883 chickering square grand piano and the serial number was branded into the wood behind the keyboard. You will notice that the brand can have an impact on the value of a square grand piano. Mar 25, 2016 i have a 1904 chickering quarter grand piano. Chickering pianos for sale buy a chickering piano at pianomart. We chose to have my grandmothers chickering grand piano completely. Chickering square grand piano brazillian rosewood the holy grail of instrument woods.
Chickering and sons is a bostonbased piano manufacturing company which is known for their awardwinning pianos and music instruments of topnotch quality. Your pianos age is one of the most significant factors in determining your pianos value. This beautiful chickering square grand piano was built in boston in 1884, a time when more square grand pianos were being built in america than both upright and grand pianos combined. Made of brazilian rosewood and chickering is the firsat american manufacturer of pianos.
They came into existence in the united states during the 1820s and were the primary piano produced through the 1880s. Fur elise played on 1853 chickering square grand piano youtube. Browse our available selection, or use our filters to refine your search by size, price, location, distance from you, or color. The piano is in good condition, although i do not have the original piano bench. This is a chickering piano from the golden era of american piano building. Not exactly a square piano for sure, but all early pianos are interesting and this one particularly so, with its highly original condition and retaining most of the original strings, such that a very convincing early souind is possible. Antique piano chickering square grand piano restored. Along with samick, baldwin also manufactured chickering grand pianos from 1994 to 2001. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at.
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