Pianotech

I've put three photos in a shared file called "Chickering photos". [ If I knew how to put the link in, I would do that ] The plate has been painted over, I don't find a serial number, and the owner would like an idea of when this piano was made.  It is a "Scale 123", 6'4" grand.  I think the metal hammer flanges should limit the date range, but I am not certainly not an authority.  Any & all help arriving at an era for this piano would be appreciated.

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Sheffey Gregory, RPT
McDonald TN
423-614-5001

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I dated a chickering grand once, but it didn't last ... Visit my website: www.gregoryhamilton.org On Sep 15, 2013, at 7:00 PM, "Sheffey Gregory" wrote: > > I've put three photos in a shared file called "Chickering photos". [ If I knew how to put the link in, I would do that ] The plate has been painted over, I don't find a serial number, and the owner would like an idea of when this piano was made. It is a "Scale 123", 6'4" grand. I think the metal hammer flanges should limit the date range, but I am not certainly not an authority. Any & all help arriving at an era for this piano would be appreciated.> > ------------------------------------------- > Sheffey Gregory, RPT > McDonald TN > 423-614-5001 > > ------------------------------------------- > >

Turn of the century into the teens at least. Not sure when they stopped making them.  I've got 2 here...really nice instruments to my tastes.

Jim Ialeggio

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Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-15-2013 22:23
From: Gregory Hamilton
Subject: Dating a Chickering grand

I dated a chickering grand once, but it didn't last ...

Visit my website:
www.gregoryhamilton.org

On Sep 15, 2013, at 7:00 PM, "Sheffey Gregory" wrote:

>
> I've put three photos in a shared file called "Chickering photos". [ If I knew how to put the link in, I would do that ] The plate has been painted over, I don't find a serial number, and the owner would like an idea of when this piano was made. It is a "Scale 123", 6'4" grand. I think the metal hammer flanges should limit the date range, but I am not certainly not an authority. Any & all help arriving at an era for this piano would be appreciated.>
> -------------------------------------------
> Sheffey Gregory, RPT
> McDonald TN
> 423-614-5001
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
>

Below is a link to a twin sister of your Chickering from the same era. This is scale 123 serial number 109781(1905).

You might find the serial number on top of the lyre, perhaps on top of the legs, inside the cavity.

Here is a link to the photo set.

Chickering 123

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Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com
http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/

From: Dan Silverwood
Chickering 123

Very nice, Dan. Thank you for posting.

Keith McGavern, RPT
Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
tune-repair@allegiance.tv
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Dan & Bill,
       Your responses showed up after I had posted to Jim. Dan- thanks for the help, Bill - I did not see a serial number, my guess is the tooner painted right over it when he spruced it up. ( and then I'm being generous). I checked the action, but did not look on the pedal lyre or legs.

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Sheffey Gregory, RPT
McDonald TN
423-614-5001

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Original Message:
Sent: 09-17-2013 08:36
From: Dan Silverwood
Subject: Dating a Chickering grand

Below is a link to a twin sister of your Chickering from the same era. This is scale 123 serial number 109781(1905).

You might find the serial number on top of the lyre, perhaps on top of the legs, inside the cavity.

Here is a link to the photo set.

Chickering 123

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Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com
http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/

Jim,
Thanks for the reply.  This gives me something to tell the customer.  I agree about them being nice instruments.  Even with original, not well shaped hammers, it has a nice sound. This one "came with the house", they paid an extra $3500 when the bought the house to get the piano.

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Sheffey Gregory, RPT
McDonald TN
423-614-5001

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Original Message:
Sent: 09-15-2013 22:36
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: Dating a Chickering grand

Turn of the century into the teens at least. Not sure when they stopped making them.  I've got 2 here...really nice instruments to my tastes.

Jim Ialeggio

-------------------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 09-15-2013 22:23
From: Gregory Hamilton
Subject: Dating a Chickering grand

I dated a chickering grand once, but it didn't last ...

Visit my website:
www.gregoryhamilton.org

On Sep 15, 2013, at 7:00 PM, "Sheffey Gregory" wrote:

>
> I've put three photos in a shared file called "Chickering photos". [ If I knew how to put the link in, I would do that ] The plate has been painted over, I don't find a serial number, and the owner would like an idea of when this piano was made. It is a "Scale 123", 6'4" grand. I think the metal hammer flanges should limit the date range, but I am not certainly not an authority. Any & all help arriving at an era for this piano would be appreciated.>
> -------------------------------------------
> Sheffey Gregory, RPT
> McDonald TN
> 423-614-5001
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
>

Dan, Wonderful set of pictures! I didn't see any serial number, did you find one on this piano? My experience with this era piano is that the serial number is in one place on the plate, and no where else. The case number (usually 3 or 4 digits) is found anywhere else. Regards, Bill Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus. President, Shull Piano Inc Director, Period Piano Center 25041 Redlands Blvd Loma Linda, CA 92354 909 796-4226 bus cell bdshull@aol.com _www.shullpiano.com_ (http://www.shullpiano.com/) _www.periodpianos.org_ (http://www.periodpianos.org/) In a message dated 9/17/2013 8:25:20 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, noreply@egroups.ptg.org writes:

 Hi Keith and Bill,

Thanks for the comments on the photos. Yes I did locate a serial number on that one. It was between the bass/treble break in the triangle window that forms between the plate bars. When I took the photos I had not replaced the numbers.

Hey Sheffey,

It has been a while since that job was completed (2007) so I can't recall if I found numbers in other places. The ones I mentioned are some of the favorite hiding places.

 I can't help but wonder, at times, if the fellows in the factories long ago were snickering with these joker type smiles on their faces as they applied the serials in unusual places knowing full well that years later it would be a frustrating experience to try and locate them. My over active imagination I suppose.

I liked that instrument. It had a woody tone; Tenor not bad, a little weak in the treble but that could be sounding board deterioration, the bass full and round with a lot of wood involved. Because of the action configuration I used the Abel Blue Premiums on walnut for that one. Right out of the box, a little sugar coating and done. The only problem was the brass whippen clips. The flanges are from Schaff but the clips I had to make as the replacement clips do not line up correctly.  That problem I show in the photo set.

Best of luck to all,

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Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com
http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/



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