Chickering grand
Tom Shaw
We had a Chickering grand at our teacher's student recital yesterday and
it sounded so good I am curious as to its age. The light wasn't very
good and the serial number was hard to read but we agreed it was 15314.
I judged it to be close to 8 feet long. It was very loud and the room
was live. The treble rang like nothing I have ever heard
before...bright and clear and crisp. My teacher said the action was
alright but she didn't like the condition of the case...as if I cared
about that. The action was heavy...similar to what I expect in a grand
piano. All I can say is that if this is a mediocre piano I would like
to get close to a good one. It was the best I have heard so far. That
includes a few Steinways I have heard in larger halls and maybe the room
is what made the piano sound so good.
So let me know how old it is. If I have an impossible serial number let
me know about that too and I'll go back with a flashlight and get it
right!
TS
piano guy
If you place a one in front 115314.....1910
If you add a zero at the end 153140.....1934
If you place a two in front 215314.....1961
Happy Holidays
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I *should* be in a zoo
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Tom Shaw <a000...@mail.airmail.net> wrote in message
news:C6DDC9F2AE93C293.C55C831C...@lp.airnews.net...
LFletc6143
>I judged it to be close to 8 feet long.
Tom,
According to the Pierce Piano Atlas, from 1904 the numbers went to 6 digits,
and none of the 5 digit numbers would match up. At the same time, a note is
made that (quote) "Concert Grand # 15327 about 1925. The number you have is, of
course, lower than this, but given the fact that it looked to be an 8' or so, I
would guess it to be an early 1920's concert grand, or a model leading up to
it. And it would have been one fine piano in it's day.
Hope I helped.
Larry Fletcher
Pianos, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
Dealer/Technician
piano guy
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LFletc6143 <lflet...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:19991220150127...@ng-fk1.aol.com...
piano guy
>># 15327 about 1925.
Oops! You are correct Larry, it does say that....but why would the concert
grands have a different series of numbers? Chickering did not build that
many in the first place....do you think it could be a typo?
LFletc6143
>grands have a different series of numbers? Chickering did not build that
>many in the first place....do you think it could be a typo?
>
I'm not sure, PG. I know that most of the pianos the Chickerings built were
almost a one off custom each time, little changes here and there, and there
couldn't have been many of the concert grands built, I wouldn't think. I can
only guess that they had some reason in mind at the time they picked the
starting number. As you know, while Mr. Pierce did a heck of a job researching
out all his information, sometimes it was impossible to get it exact when you
go back that far. My assumption would be that the earliest concert grand he
could find was the one he mentioned, but there could have been some earlier
than that but no real records available to verify it from (obviously so, since
Tom has found one). One thing's for sure, there wouldn't be many of them around
now. Tom might want to try to buy it from them.
Yogi Panda
If your spell checker was newsgroup aware, it would have suggested *grunts*
Yogi, just kidding
piano guy
I have a copy of Michel's Piano Atlas ©1957, the reference to Concert Grand
#15327 is not in there....you are correct, Bob Pierce added that
information.
For the life of me I can't see any reason why Chickering would use a number
that would indicate a manufacture date of 1854 on a 1925 piano. Didn't they
realize they would confuse some piano tuner in 1999???
Did you ever see the beam structure under a large Chickering...it takes a
whole herd of turtles to move one of those monsters.
Jingle Bells,
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LFletc6143 <lflet...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
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piano guy
> Acoustigrande.
=========================================================
Hi Keith,
Definite possibility (research is fun ain't it?), but I was not aware that
the Acoustigrande name was used on any concert size instruments. Have you
seen one?
Happy Holidays
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<kam...@flash.net> wrote in message news:385EF2A8...@flash.net...
> piano guy wrote:
>
> > >>At the same time, a note is made that (quote) "Concert Grand
> > >># 15327 about 1925.
> > =======================================================
> > Oops! You are correct Larry, it does say that....but why would the
concert
> > grands have a different series of numbers? Chickering did not build
that
> > many in the first place....do you think it could be a typo?...
>
> #15314, 1917, Pierce Piano Atlas, 10th Edition, p10.
> --
> Keith McGavern
> Registered Piano Technician
> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> Piano Technicians Guild
> USA
>
>
piano guy
>>suggested *grunts*
Hi Yogi,
If my spell checker had to move a piano it would definitely *grunt*.
Jingle Bells
kam...@flash.net
> >>At the same time, a note is made that (quote) "Concert Grand
> >># 15327 about 1925.
> =======================================================
> Oops! You are correct Larry, it does say that....but why would the concert
> grands have a different series of numbers? Chickering did not build that
> many in the first place....do you think it could be a typo?...
Most likely the fallboard says Chickering Brothers, but the plate says
Acoustigrande.
VOCE88
>Did you ever see the beam structure under a large Chickering...it takes a
>whole herd of turtles to move one of those monsters.
>
>Jingle Bells,
>
>--
>*******piano guy*****
Hi John,
That is why there are very few good piano movers out there! The capital
outlay it takes to feed all those turtles can wipe out an otherwise sound
business in a heartbeat!
Richard Galassini
Cunningham Piano Co
Phila,. Pa.
1 (800) 394-1117
LFletc6143
>#15327 is not in there....you are correct, Bob Pierce added that
>information.
>
I can't believe it, PG. I actually got something right this week!..... :-)
>Didn't they
>realize they would confuse some piano tuner in 1999???
I stay confused most of the time.
>Did you ever see the beam structure under a large Chickering...it takes a
>whole herd of turtles to move one of those monsters.
My turtles took one up 6 flights of stairs once. You guessed it....I pay both
of them whatever they ask of me. Fortunately, they're not as good at math as
they are at lifting.
Once, after taking a fully grown M & H up 4 flights of stairs and then lifting
it up onto a 5' high stage, they came back complaining that if they'd had 2 or
3 more like *that* today they'd have been tired!
piano guy
>>The capital outlay it takes to feed all those turtles can wipe out
>>an otherwise sound business in a heartbeat!
Hey Richard,
Haven't seen you posting lately, getting ready for those Christmas
deliveries I'll bet. Are Louis IV consoles still popular in Philly...I
remember always seeing several on your floor. Nice ones too Knabes, Mason &
Hamlins.
It seems that good experienced piano movers are a dying breed, do you have
any young people coming up who will be there for you down the road.
No doubt, a reckless mover can cost a fortune in touch-up.
Merry Christmas
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I *should* be in a zoo
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VOCE88 <voc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991220225701...@ng-da1.aol.com...
> >
> >Did you ever see the beam structure under a large Chickering...it takes
a
> >whole herd of turtles to move one of those monsters.
> >
> >Jingle Bells,
> >
> >--
> >*******piano guy*****
>
> Hi John,
>
> X>
Yogi Panda
Grunt, grunt!
piano guy
>>then lifting it up onto a 5' high stage, they came back complaining
>>that if they'd had 2 or 3 more like *that* today they'd have been tired!
I'll bet you wish you could make them tired every day delivering
grands. BTW they must be some *big* turtles.
Tom Shaw
what you mean by the plate. The serial number was within a milled out
area with semicircular ends and straight sides. There was, as best I
remember, the number 141 cast into one casting. The only other thing
was a set of numbers pressed into the underside of the front part of the
lid. They looked like some kind of inventory(?) numbers which were not
put in by the maker since they were exposed when the from part of the
lide was folded back.
I will be going back to that location in a week or two and will check
the serial number for sure and also record exactly what the fallboard
decal says.
Thanks to all for their comments and Merry Christmas.
TS
Niles Duncan
Why would it have to be a square? Chickering was making grand pianos in the
1850's. If the piano in question is parallel strung instead of overstrung that
would put it in the ballpark. 8 feet was a very common size for grand pianos
during the 1850's.
Niles Duncan
http://www.pianosource.com
Jon Parker
--
Jon Parker
Jazz Pianist
Denver
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piano guy <oo...@doobie.xyz> wrote in message
news:uGDtR22S$GA.337@cpmsnbbsa03...
> >>If your spell checker was newsgroup aware, it would have
> >>suggested *grunts*
> ==================================================
> Hi Yogi,
>
> If my spell checker had to move a piano it would definitely *grunt*.
>
> Jingle Bells
piano guy
Hi Jon,
Who knew turtles could be so much fun?
Hey (hic*) man...can you (hic*) play Feelings (hic*)....... ;o)
Happy Holidays
I bet it's cold in Denver
piano guy
the
> 1850's.
You taught me something new Niles, I have never seen a Chickering grand
from the 1850s other than squares. Thanks for your input.
Jon Parker
>
> Hey (hic*) man...can you (hic*) play Feelings (hic*)....... ;o)
>
> Happy Holidays
> I bet it's cold in Denver
> --
> *******piano guy******
I don't play Feelings, but I will learn it by the next time you come into
this bar.... :-)
Denver was freezing yesterday, and it was not safe coming home from my gig
last night, but if things keep up, we will have a nice white Christmas.
kam...@flash.net
Going even further, there is a picture in Pierce Piano Atlas, 10th Edition of
the "First Chickering Concert Grand - Built in 1840" on p168.
piano guy
Edition of
> the "First Chickering Concert Grand - Built in 1840" on p168.
I borrowed the latest atlas from my wife and looked at the picture (she
always gets the newest one). It's very interesting, reminds me of some of
the John Broadwoods I've seen. The carving on the case and legs looks out
of place for 1840, seems much later. It would be interesting to see what
the action looks like.
Thank you, Keith
piano guy
> this bar.... :-)
I'm surprised you've managed to avoid it this long. Guess you won't need to
learn it on my account cause I don't get around much anymore.
Enjoy that Denver snow.....
--
Jon Parker
> I'm surprised you've managed to avoid it this long. Guess you won't need
to
> learn it on my account cause I don't get around much anymore.
Hey man, cough cough, I play jazz man, cough, the music is "feelings." Now,
what was that song you wanted to hear again?
piano guy
> Now, what was that song you wanted to hear again?
I don't much care what you play, I want to know what you're smoking?
Jon Parker
> I don't much care what you play, I want to know what you're smoking?
>
When I finish off the set with Jerry Lewis, my piano is smoking (just
kidding, and I guess that really isn't jazz...whatever)
piano guy
That just reminds me, I've seen a few that needed to be set on fire.
Clark
Chickering Concert Grand - Built in 1840." I'd reserve judgement on this
caption because the Boston MFA's H&D (with a lower serial number than mine)
is reckoned at 1859 for questionable reasons.
In my experience, Chickering seems to have used different numbering systems
for squares and grands/uprights; however, with E. Brown's action patented in
1843, it is possible that a prototype of this action could have been made for
as early an instrument as above.
Great action, by the way.
Clark