Chickering and sons pianos company history total piano care. The case is made of exquisite book matched walnut wood. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Ive been told this sort of tall upright is referred to as an upright grand, but i dont know for sure. Jonas chickering, the founder, was a youthful cabinet maker.
Steinwegs arrival in the united states by more than 30 years. Also, located within the piano row area on tremont street, was the showroom of chickering and sons, bostons largest piano manufacturer. Jan 14, 2009 when jonas chickering started up shop through the time that it was in american aeolians hands chickering was most definitely a topflight piano. Chickering pianos are a popular choice for students, home enthusiasts and professional musicians alike.
Giraffes, black dragons, and other pianos, edwin m. But, in fact, cabinetmaking and piano making apprenticeships by jonas chickering predate henry e. In 1867, emperor napoleon iii of france bestowed the imperial cross of the legion of honor on frank chickering at the paris worlds fair that year. This area is accessible by simply lifting up the top lid as shown. Bibliography and other sources of information about chickering.
The story of the handel and haydn society of boston 1965. Chickering is, of course, credited with the introduction of the cast iron plate. Antique piano chickering square grand piano restored. Chickerings placement of serial numbers on its earliest square pianos was not consistent. See more ideas about chickering piano, piano and piano for sale. Good, stanford university press, stanford california, 1982.
I made inquiries about taking it over, but never heard back from the owner. Author of catalogue of the exhibition horticultural hall, catalogue of the exhibition, achievement, an ascending scale, the jonas chickering centennial celebration. Many piano companies have had family owners who were craftsmen that brought tradition and expert innvention throughout their history. 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.
In 1850, henry steinway attended a concert featuring performance on a chickering grand piano. Pianos manufactured in the victorian era to the great. The commemoration of the founding of the house of chickering. Mar 26, 2005 there was a site devoted to chickering history with a registry of owners, but it is now defunct and offline.
Chickering pianos for sale buy a chickering piano at pianomart. Jonas chickering improved it and was granted a patent for it. This piano was recently acquired in very good original condition. Locating your serial number chickering foundation home. He began excitedly telling me the history of chickering, telling me about various milestone models and told me about a concert grand hed been trying unsuccessfully to buy for 40 years. For all the difficulties that they create otherwise, chickerings prolificness and practice of rapid design changes usually mean that any early chickering piano can be fairly narrowly dated. At the worlds fair, london, 1851, he showed the first american pianos in europe receiving highest honors. This is a show stopping piece of furniture that adds character to any room. The chickering factory burned in 1852 but a new better facility was built. In 1952 chickering brought his three sons into the business and it became chickering and sons. Chickering pianos are a popular choice for students, home enthusiasts and professional. Chickering pianos, particularly antique ones, can potentially be rather valuable. The theory was published in 1969, but revisited in 1993.
Chickering hall in new york was his use of concert work. This beautiful piano is a rare example of the art deco style that was popular in the mid 20th century. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. The history of chickering pianos piano history living pianos. This chickering and sons upright piano has been sold. The firm was originally established in boston in 1823 by jonas chickering and his partner james stewart under the name of stewart. Locate the age of your chickering and sons piano within the chart found below. Advertisement for chickering and sons pianoforte manufactory. Chickering and sons pianos company history serial numbers. The company was founded in 1823 by jonas chickering and james stewart, but the partnership dissolved four years later.
The original ivory keys are in excellent condition, as is the handcarved music rack and pedal lyre. The piano forums are an online community of piano lovers including piano industry professionals, concert artists, recording artists, technicians, dealers, manufacturers, and thousands of enthusiastic amateur pianist. According to the piano blue book, this means it was manufactured between 1850 serial numbers beginning 0 and 1905 serial numbers beginning 105000. The soundboard is in great condition with no cracks.
The company continued as chickering and sons until 1908 when it was combined with the knabe company to form american piano co. On your upright, the serial number is almost always on the wood or iron frame inside the piano above the tuning pins. In 1904 the firm produced a quarter grand piano, which was then the smallest of its type. The theory establishes seven vectors, also known as tasks, that deal with psychological development. Gorgeous piano, but needs regulation and voicing in a bad way. Grand, square, and upright piano fortes sons, chickering. Another 222 words 16 lines of text covering the years 1210, 1212, 1273, 1500, and 1650 are included under the topic early chickering history in all our pdf extended history products and printed products wherever possible. There was a site devoted to chickering history with a registry of owners, but it is now defunct and offline. Chickering pianos for sale buy a chickering piano at.
The value of a specific piano model may be determined on the basis of the price shown. What is the value of your chickering and sons piano serial. Advertisement for chickering and sons pianoforte manufactory, tremont. In auditing the books, george charged his brother had overdrawn the. Archives center, national museum of american history. He began excitedly telling me the history of chickering, telling me about various milestone models and told me about a. Chickering and sons is a bostonbased piano manufacturing company which is known for their awardwinning pianos and music instruments of topnotch quality. Chickering piano prices and value upright, grand new, used. The 1857 catalog of chickering and sons piano fortes at the exhibitions of 1856 was donated. Drypoint and aquatint, printed in color from three plates. Over 12,000 piano names are included, some dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. Thomas edward chickering military wiki fandom powered. This message has been cross posted to the following discussions.
From about 18301839, chickering entered into partnership with john mackay. He learned piano making from john osborn, a true master of the trade. Thomas edward chickering october 22, 1824 february 14, 1871 was a piano manufacturer and soldier the chickering and sons piano manufacturing company was established by thomas chickerings father and was among the first and most celebrated piano manufacturers in the united states. 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. Your pianos age is one of the most significant factors in determining your pianos value. The theory focuses on the overall identity development of college students. This section lists the average resale prices for used pianos. Early history of the chickering family this web page shows only a small excerpt of our chickering research.
This guide provides references to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, a brief history of many manufacturers and other pertinent information. In 1891, franks death touched off the final chapter in the company history. We are happy to assist in dating your pre1890 chickering. The piano book is the bible of the piano marketplace. Chickering has long been known having built some of the finest instruments in american history. Chickering quickly became one of the largest and most successful piano manufacturers of all time. The history of chickering pianos piano history living. Feb 06, 2015 this chickering and sons upright piano has been sold. From the serial number you have provided, your piano was manufactured circa 1942. Chickering and sons pianos serial numbers piano age.
Our available chickering pianos include a range of types, costs and conditions. Age is an important factor in helping determine the desirability and potential value of any instrument. 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. Chickering s placement of serial numbers on its earliest square pianos was not consistent. Thomas took over administration of the firm from his father in 1853. 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 associated with. It is thought that chickering may have had a duplicate set of serial numbers for grand pianos but this. Chickering was the first piano manufacturer in america, established in 1823. It is a highquality chickering square with a full 88 keys and beautifully carved victorian case. Chickering was established in 1823 and is credited with being the first american piano manufacturer and was called stewart and chickering.