Pianotech

  • 1.  Pitch for old Chickering

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2024 11:13

    What is the current thinking about lowering an old Chickering grand from 440 back to 435, where is supposedly was when built?



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    Jonathan Langham RPT
    RPT
    Princeton IN
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  • 2.  RE: Pitch for old Chickering

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2024 12:01
    If the customer is willing to pay for a pitch lowering and tuning, there is nothing wrong with it. Just make sure he/she understands that the piano won't be in tune when it is going to accompany other instruments, unless they can tune to the piano. 





  • 3.  RE: Pitch for old Chickering

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2024 14:13
    There's not enough difference in tension to be any harm to the piano at A-440.   Records show that these were sometimes sold by the company at A-456, without any change in scaling or structural changes.

    Regards,

    Bill

    Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
    www.shullpiano.com
    www.periodpiano.org
    909 796-4226

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Pitch for old Chickering

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2024 14:41
    Thanks fellows.

    Sincerely


    Jonathan Langham, Registered Piano Technician, Piano Technicians Guild



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Pitch for old Chickering

    Member
    Posted 06-13-2024 16:04

    There is no issue tuning it to 440. Many Chickerings have 435 stamped on the plate which is over engineered . Many Chickering plates  were  made at the Cyrus Alger/South Boston Iron works in Massachusetts.   Alger cannons where shipped all over the East Coast protecting the coast, used to defend forts and key installations

    Alger developed a process that gave his cannons to be twice as strong as regular cast iron. You may want to inspect the plate for any cracks before you begin.



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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
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