Piano History

  • 1.  Chickering Factory Stereoscopic Views & Factory Models

    Member
    Posted 09-01-2019 14:04
    I am trying to find a collection of Stereoscopic views taken in side the Chickering & Sons factory in the early 1880's. The views show various operations and machinery that was used in the factory located at 791 Tremont Street in Boston. According to an article in a 1919 edition of the music trade review a Boston collector purchased the desk owned by Charles Frank Chickering and found these views in a drawer.

    Another article of the music trade review states that models of the factory were made by Chickering and sent to dealers around the country. Perhaps someone has seen such a model and knows where one might be found. Items are being sought for a permanent display in the lobby and on walls of the former factory which is now known as the Piano Craft Guild.  Any leads are appreciated - pm if you prefer.

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 2.  RE: Chickering Factory Stereoscopic Views & Factory Models

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-01-2019 21:30
    If these stereo views could be found and scanned, prints could be made and mounted on stereopticon cards.

    I believe that there are also stereo views of the Steinway factory?

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    Susan Kline
    Philomath, Oregon
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Chickering Factory Stereoscopic Views & Factory Models

    Member
    Posted 09-01-2019 22:17
    a few weeks ago a collection of lantern slides taken inside the Steinway factory in late 1920's wher for sale on ebay for $1500 later the price dropped to $1000. In 1919 a collector by the name of Hallie C Blake purchased a desk that belonged to Charles Frank Chickering who was the scale designer and last of the three sons to pass away. The stereoscopic views were taken in the early 1880's at a time that many factories had stereo views made. It has been hard to determine who the photographer was but it could have been Kilburn Brothers of NH or Underwood & Underwood or even a free lancer. TE Marr was a Boston photographer who made many exterior and interior photographs of the factory 100 boxes of his records where listed on a records inventory as being at the Boston Public Library. So far they can not be located which is rather bizarre since libraries are usually good a cataloging things. I know that there were two auctions of Blakes collections one shortly after his death and the second some time later by his widow. I have a number of stereo sellers on the lookout for any Chickering & Sons stereos . Some of the people that know about stereos told me that usually many copies where made from a stereo shoot. i have found stereos taken in car factories, machine shops, cotton mills, glass factories but so far nothing in the Chickering & Sons factory

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    Original Message