Company History The company was founded in 1823 by Jonas Chickering and James Stewart. However, their partnership was dissolved four years later. In 1830, Chickering became partner with John Mackay under the name Chickering and Company and later changed to Chickering and Mackays until the death of senior Mackay in 1841. The company was reorganized and renamed to Chickering and Sons in 1853 following the destruction of the company’s factory in December 1852 in a massive fire. The company became part of American Piano Company (Ampico) in 1908.
Today, the name Chickering and Sons continues to be used as a piano brand under the Baldwin Piano Company, which bought the company’s assets and rights. Recognition and Contribution to the Field of Piano Development Technology The most notable contribution of Chickering and Sons piano manufacturing, to the development of piano technology, is their introduction of a one-piece cast iron plate to support the greater string tension of larger pianos. Jonas Chickering also invented a new deflection of the strings and in 1845 the first convenient method for over stringing in square pianos.
Instead of setting the strings side by side, the company introduced substituting an arrangement of the string in two banks, one over the other. This does not only save space but also brings the powerful bass strings directly over the most resonant part of the sound-board, the principle which completes to this day in the construction of all pianos, both grands and uprights. In 1850, Henry Steinway (Steinweg), founder of Steinway and Sons pianos, showed interest and admiration to the Chickering piano after he saw the piano used during a musical tour in Boston. In 1867, the brand received the Imperial Cross of the Legion of Honor, one of the world's most prestigious non-military awards, given by Emperor Napoleon III for services to the art of music.
The honor was only one of more than 200 awards Chickering has received over the years. Chickering and Sons Pianos Serial Numbers - Piano Age Locate the age of your Chickering and Sons Piano within the chart found below: 1824 - 100 1825 - 316 1830 - 716 1835 - 1980 1840 - 4235 1845 - 6490 1850 -1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 247477.
Industry Founded 1823 in Founder Defunct 1983; 35 years ago ( 1983) Headquarters, United States Products Chickering & Sons was an American manufacturer located in, known for producing award-winning instruments of superb quality and design. The company was founded in 1823 by and James Stewart, but the partnership dissolved four years later.
By 1830 Jonas Chickering became partners with John Mackay, manufacturing pianos as 'Chickering & Company', and later 'Chickering & Mackays' until the senior Mackay's death in 1841, and reorganized as 'Chickering & Sons' in 1853. Chickering pianos continued to be made until 1983. Jonas Chickering, founder. It was who persuaded - the Swedish Nightingale - to make a concert tour of the United States. After her agreement, Barnum commissioned the Chickering company to manufacture a custom grand piano for her nationwide tour, ultimately involving 93 performances. The piano was completed by August 1850; Lind arrived in September and the concert series began in Boston. Her pianist was, whom she married at the end of her tour.
Coincidentally, as the tour began, (Steinweg) and his large family arrived in New York as immigrants from Germany. Henry attended the opening night of the NYC concert series but showed little interest in the diva. His profound interest was in the Chickering piano, to which he dashed for such careful examination that he nearly had to be hauled away so the concert could begin. On December 1, 1852, a massive fire destroyed Chickering's piano factory located at 336 Washington Street in Boston. One policeman was killed. The walls of the building collapsed, and set adjoining structures on fire. A new factory was built in 1853-54 at 791 Tremont Street in Boston.
From 1860-1868 space in the building was the location of the Company, who made over 100,000 rifles and carbines for the U.S. Army and sportsmen from 1862-1868. This structure still stands today.
It was renovated into artist studios in 1972. Jonas Chickering made several major contributions to the development of piano technology, most notably by introducing a one-piece, plate to support the greater string tension of larger grand pianos. Jonas Chickering also invented a new deflection of the strings and in 1845 the first convenient method for over stringing in square pianos. Instead of setting the strings side by side, the company introduced substituting an arrangement of the string in two banks, one over the other. This does not only save space but also brings the powerful bass strings directly over the most resonant part of the sound-board, the principle which completes to this day in the construction of all pianos, both grands and uprights. Chickering was the largest piano manufacturer in the United States in the middle of the 19th century, but was surpassed in the 1860s.
In 1867, Jonas's son Frank Chickering had the Imperial Cross of the, then one of the world's most prestigious non-military awards, bestowed upon him by for services to the art of music, one of more than 200 awards the piano manufacturer garnered over the years. The company became in 1908 part of the, and continued after the merger in 1932 of American with the, to form Aeolian-American. That company went out of business in 1985, and the Chickering name continued to be applied to new pianos produced by and then the. The brand is now defunct. Chickering Halls The firm operated a concert hall in Boston in several successive locations:. Chickering's building, Boston (c. 1850s), no.334 Washington St.
Chickering's Hall, Boston (1860-1870), no.246 Washington St., Boston (1883-c. 1894), no.152 Tremont St., near West St., Boston (1901-c.
1912), Huntington Ave., corner of Massachusetts Ave. The firm also ran the 'Chickering Hall' concert auditorium in New York City at no.130 Fifth Avenue, 1875-1901. The building was situated on the north-west corner (not north-east contrary to some sources) of Fifth Avenue and West Eighteenth Street, and was the venue for. Source: New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age, Robert A.M. Stern (Author), Thomas Mellins (Author), David Fishman (Author). Images.
Marcot, Roy A. 'Spencer Repeating Firearms' 1995. at CelebrateBoston.com. Grove's dictionary of music and musicians. NY: 1920. ^ upon the eightieth anniversary of the event, 1823-1903.
Boston: Chickering & Sons, 1904. 'Closing of a Well-Known Concert Room.' Dwight's Journal of Music, v.30, no.5, May 21, 1870.
'Americanization of piano trade in U.S. Exemplified by Chickering & Sons.' The Music Trades, April 5, 1919. George H. Chickering Dead; Last Male Survivor of the Well-Known Family of Piano-forte Makers Passes Away in Boston.' New York Times, November 18, 1899 Further reading.
Chickering & Sons., 1883. Chickering & Sons., Boston, 1902 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to. Boston Public Library.
Photo by J.J. Hawes, 19th century. Flickr., Tremont St., South End, Boston, 2011., Tremont St., South End, Boston, 2010.
Piano Serial Numbers: Location, location, location. Piano serial numbers usually have five to seven digits, but may have fewer or more, depending on the manufacturer and age of your piano. Serial numbers may also include a letter as well. Here are the TOP FIVE places to locate the serial number of your spinet, console, or upright piano: Serial number locations are found: 1) On the piano’s cast iron plate. After lifting up the lid, look along the top front area of the plate.
The serial number may be to the right or the left, or in the middle. 2) Under the opened lid on the ledge, stamped on a little plaque, to the right or to the left.
3) Stamped on the back of the piano; near the top of the wood frame. 4) Printed on one of the hammers, found on either end of the piano (newer or imported pianos). 5) Printed on one the keys - behind the nameboard, inside the piano (newer or imported pianos). If you cannot find the serial number in any of the locations listed on this page, please watch the video below, to help find more piano serial number locations. Grand Piano Serial Numbers Where Are They Found?
Here are the TOP FIVE places to locate the serial number of your BABY GRAND or GRAND piano: Note: You may have to remove the (1) music desk first and then (2) gently clean out any dust from your piano's plate using a soft dry cloth + vacuum hose before these numbers can be found. Serial number locations are found: 1) On the piano’s cast iron plate, near the tuning pins, as you face the keys.
Look to the right or to the left. 2) The Capo d'astro bar. Located on the right, this acts as a 'bridge' to the 'beams' of the cast iron plate. 3) On the piano's soundboard (see link above for a diagram). 4) On a metal plate underneath the piano's top lid, near the strings and soundboard. 5) Immediate interior front: On the back of the a keyslip (long wooden ledge, runs along the front/bottom of the keys. Serial number is often hidden and stamped on the other side, facing the keys).
On the front of the b action frame (after the keyslip is removed), or stamped on c one or both of the cheek blocks, viewed to the right and left of the piano's keyboard. On older pianos, you may find 3-5 screws, underneath the keyslip, that need to be removed (lift up, in most cases) to view the action frame. The serial number may be stamped on the frame's wooden base, immediately under the keys.
Chickering And Sons Piano For Sale
To the right and left of the keys are two end cheek blocks, which are each secured down with a giant bolt or screw, which passes through the piano's keybed, both of which must be removed, to access the interior of the piano (see video, above). Caution: When unscrewing and removing the cheek blocks, do not mistake the piano's leg screw/bolt, with the cheek block's screw/bolt. Also, be careful not to drop the cheek blocks once they are removed, which may gouge and permanently damage their delicate condition.
To recap the interior: the serial number can be found on the back of the keyslip, on the action's keyframe, or on the cheek blocks (each side), once removed. Scroll down below to find the (1) manufacturer of your piano, and then (2) click on the link to find the serial number. (Please be patient as we are updating this page on a daily basis. National priority list. We invite you to SUBSCRIBE to this page, and to use the search box above, as serial numbers are being updated and added on an ongoing basis.). Thinking of purchasing a Yamaha Piano? Visit our to find out more before making that purchase!
The Pierce Piano Atlas, 12th Edition now in hardcover format, provides a wealth of information about the piano manufacturing industry. Over 12,000 piano names are included, some dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. This guide provides references to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, a brief history of many manufacturers and other pertinent information.
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The Piano Book is the bible of the piano marketplace. An indispensable resource to buyers and owners of pianos, amateur and professional pianists alike. This book evaluates and compares every brand and style of piano sold in the United States. Information on how the piano works, ages, and the difference between different piano brands is discussed in great detail. There is also a wealth of diagrams of parts, information on manufacturing, maintenance, moving and storage, inspecting new and used pianos, the special market for Steinways, and sales gimmicks to watch out for. Playing Piano for Pleasure is a practical guide to learning and playing the piano for fun! Includes material from the author's interviews with master pianists, artists, and writers.
Chickering And Sons Piano
The result is a book that should be cherished for years to come.
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