Chickering

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Chickering

Original Manufacturer of this brand-name--The Chickering Piano Company.

Established--1823 by Jonas Chickering and James Stewart.

Other brand-names used by this manufacturer--

Other manufacturers of this brand-name--American Piano Company (1906-), Aeolian Piano Company (1932-), Baldwin (1986-), Gibson Guitars (2001-).

From: Pierce Piano Atlas, 12th Edition (2008, Larry Ashley Publisher, Albuquerque, NM).

Note: To obtain the age of your piano and details about the manufacturer, click: Pierce Piano Atlas--"the world's most authoritative publication on piano manufacturers, past and present." To learn how a piano works and how to go about buying one, we encourage you to purchase The Piano Book.

Chickering Square Grand #45459
Beautiful Rosewood Cabinet. Built in 1874. Restored by Ray's Piano Service in winter 2007-2008.

IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED:
Restring—Dismantle. Remove pins and strings. Restring & Repin.
Recondition action—Reshape hammers, replace loose center pins, repair defective action parts, tighten all screws.
Complete Regulation—All adjustments to ensure that piano plays like new, tune to A-440. Some cabinet repair. Reassemble

Selected pictures of the improvement process taken in our shop
CLICK PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE, THEN CLICK "CLOSE" TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE

Action cleaned

Removing bass strings & pins

Plate raised

Plate removed

Shims glued

Board shims sanded

New woodscrew in board

Soundboard decal

Lacquer soundboard

Recondition action

Shank replacement

Regulating damper wires

Install damper mechanism

Install lyre

Install lid & music rest

Lid closed

5' 5" Chickering Grand (ca. 1907)
Mahogany Veneer, Built approx. 1907. Regulated and Refinished by Ray's Piano Service, February 2007

PREVIOUS IMPROVEMENTS, COMPLETED ABOUT 1990:
Rebuilt--Strings & tuning pins removed. Soundboard repaired and refinished, with new soundboard decal. New pinblock made. Completely restrung.
Action Reconditioned--New hammers and backchecks installed. Completely regulated.

IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED IN 2007:
Refinish—Strip and sand cabinet, lid, legs, bench, lyre. Polish all metal parts. Repair veneer as necessary. Repair bench. Apply hand-rubbed finish. Install new fallboard decal. Install new rubber buttons.
Regulation—Tighten action screws. Correct all regulation adjustments so piano plays like new. Tune.

5'5" Chickering Grand #129825
Mahogany case. Built in 1918. Restored by Ray’s Piano Service, April-August 2006.

IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED:
Rebuild—Repair and refinish soundboard and plate. Install new pinblock. Restring and repin. Rebuild, rebush, lubricate pedal mechanisms. Install new damper pads. Install new keytops.
Recondition action—Tighten screws, install new hammers, shanks, flanges. Replace other defective parts.
Regulation—All adjustments to ensure that piano plays like new. Install new underkey punchings. Tune to A-440.
Refinish—Dismantle, strip, repair, sand, apply filler, stain, sealer, lacquer, reassemble.