Chickering Console Piano Serial Number
Chickering & Sons (not to be confused with ) was the first piano manufacturer in America. Chickering quickly became one of the largest and most successful piano manufacturers of all time.
The firm was originally established in Boston in 1823 by Jonas Chickering and his partner James Stewart under the name of. From about 1830-1839, Chickering entered into partnership with John Mackay, building instruments under the label of. John Mackay was a sea captain that exported Chickering pianos to South America, and in return, would bring back ships full of sweet smelling rosewood and mahogany for piano building. From 1839 – 1841, John Mackay’s son William H. Mackay was admitted as an additional partner, and pianos were built under the label of “Chickering & Mackay’s”. Pianos built under the “Chickering & Mackay’s” label appear to have been produced for only 3 short years.
John Mackay was lost at sea in 1841, and this loss appears to have ended the partnership between Chickering and William H. Pianos built under the labels of “Chickering & Mackay” or “Chickering & Mackays” are exceedingly rare today. In 1852, the name of the firm was changed to Chickering & Sons when Chickering brought in his three sons, Thomas, Frank and George, as partners. Jonas Chickering died in 1853, and the firm was taken over by his son Thomas. Thomas Chickering died in 1871, and the firm was taken over by Frank Chickering.
Chickering Console Piano Value
The remaining brothers died in the 1890s, as the firm continued to grow and thrive. In 1908, Chickering was sold to the American Piano Company, makers of some of America’s better brand names. In 1932, the Aeolian Piano Company and the American Piano Company merged to create the, and they continued to build the Chickering name for decades. Chickering was an innovative manufacturer and the firm was not afraid to take risks. During the 19th and early 20th Centuries, Chickering was constantly evolving and improving their designs in order to build the finest piano possible.
Chickering’s unique approach to unconventional and improved design paid off in the 19th Century when celebrity pianists like Franz Liszt and Louis Moreau Gottschalk endorsed Chickering & Sons, stating that their instruments were the only instruments that would hold up to their strenuous performances! Liszt and Gottschalk always played Chickering pianos on their American concert tours.
Chickering Console Piano Serial Numbers
What’s the Difference Between Types of Vertical Pianos?You’re probably familiar with what a grand piano looks like. In a grand piano, the frame and the strings are both horizontal, accounting for the piano’s large body and full, rich sound.All other pianos that are not grand pianos are considered ‘vertical’ pianos. In these instruments, the frame and the strings are vertical, and the hammers move horizontally.
Hence, the piano’s vertical position.There are four different types of vertical piano, listed from shortest to tallest: spinet, console, studio and upright. Each type has a slightly different look and sound. We’ll explain the differences between each type to help you narrow down which instrument might be best for your family.SpinetA spinet piano is typically less than 40 inches tall, measured from the floor to the top of the lid. The top of the piano comes just a few inches above the keys, and the action is located below, operated by vertical wires that are attached to the backs of the keys.Spinet pianos are a great option for those with limited space. They’re also typically more inexpensive than their larger counterparts.While the spinet will certainly serve its purpose for you to learn and enjoy playing the piano, some professional musicians feel the sound quality and playability is inferior to that of larger models due to their small size and the configuration of the keys and strings.ConsoleA console piano is the next size up from the spinet, typically measuring between 40 and 44 inches tall. In this style of instrument, the action sits directly on top of the keys, with smaller hammers and the strings stretching downward.The sound quality of the console piano is satisfactory for most home pianists and hobby players.StudioA studio piano is between 44 and 47 inches tall and is similar to a console piano, with a slightly different feel and location of the action. A studio features a full-size action sitting directly on the keys.In our opinion, a studio piano produces a wonderful quality and richness of sound that rivals that of a grand piano.UprightThis is the instrument many of us envision when we think of a traditional piano—you may even have memories of one sitting in your grandparents’ house.
The tallest of the vertical pianos, the upright is a beautiful instrument with a full sound quality and easy playability.The type of piano you choose is a matter of personal preference; one person’s opinion of which type is superior shouldn’t be a deciding factor in which piano you buy. Instead, Cooper Piano’s team of knowledgeable staff members is here to help you understand what makes each instrument unique, helping you test each model until you find the one that’s just right for you. We have an Aston Weight “Upright Grand”, a brand name this small craftsman piano company used. They used the term, perhaps not technically correct, to describe the large soundboard, similar to that of an upright, made possible by the use of a full iron string frame. I must say the tone and volume is more than adequate for home use, and the use of iron rather than wood bracing results in a piano which rarely needs tuning. Mine was purchased new in 1982 from a San Diego dealerwho transported several from the Salt Lake City manufacturer.
I have a 1981 Baldwin “spinet” (I think?). The serial number is 1262378.
The keys are not white. They are a medium tan color, which goes very well with the pecan wood finish (I think?) Did Baldwin offer tinted keys when this piano was new or are they just aged like this for some reason? The color of the keys are all exactly uniform when compared to each other. Actually, this is what attracted me to this used piano in the first place, because the keys were unique and match the wood finish so well.