| I have serviced numerous Chickering and Sons pianos | | | | shape metal parts. This led to interchangeable |
| over the years. As is the case with many older original | | | | manufacturing parts, which by the 80's all the piano |
| piano brands that I have seen, some were in a state | | | | companies embraced. The assembly line came next |
| of disrepair and others were better maintained and | | | | and by then broader production and output became |
| produced quite a lovely tone. Chickerings usually have | | | | standard along with lower prices. In 1885, a medium |
| a full tone in the bass register but somewhat less | | | | quality upright cost under $500. By the mid 1890's, the |
| powerful in the tenor and treble as compared to other | | | | price dropped in half. |
| the brands; i.e. Mason & Hamlin, Steinway. They | | | | Of all the piano companies, Chickering & Sons |
| can be excellent instruments for the beginner, | | | | was the most closely connected to the founders of |
| intermediate and advanced players. | | | | the piano industry in the U.S. The Chickering family |
| One of the visible differences between Chickerings | | | | business started out with Jonas Chickering who |
| and Steinway or Mason & Hamlin's is the cast | | | | apprenticed with the early piano maker, John Osborn |
| metal plate and rim which is of a somewhat lighter | | | | until 1823. Then he set out to build his own pianos. |
| design. Lighter tone or structure is not the same as | | | | Jonas Chickering partnered with John MacKay. MaKay |
| saying that Chickerings were inferior. They weren't. | | | | was a more of a businessman than a piano builder - |
| They were just designed and built with a different | | | | craftsman. MacKay successfully marketed Chickering |
| intention. In the United States, the late 19th Century | | | | pianos until the early 1840's. |
| was the Golden Age of the Music Industry. During the | | | | Chickering had three sons who he had educated in the |
| 1890's, the music business was one of the top | | | | business and craft of piano building. Jonas partnered |
| industries in America. It consisted of at least 2 - 300 | | | | with his sons, Frank, George and Thomas in 1852 |
| piano makers, over 100 reed organ companies, several | | | | which is when they then renamed their business to |
| hundred musical instrument makers, (such as brass | | | | Chickering and Sons Piano Company. Jonas Chickering |
| instruments) and printed music publishing firms. | | | | improved upon and patented the design of the Full Iron |
| The piano industry was because of its size, one of | | | | Plate in 1837. His oldest son Thomas Chickering helped |
| national importance. For example, President Grover | | | | lead the firm until 1871 until he died. Frank Chickering |
| Cleveland was the featured speaker at the opening | | | | helped his father out at the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. |
| ceremony for the Chickering Piano Company Factory | | | | Frank Chickering recognized the importance of New |
| in Boston in 1887. The factory was over 200,000 | | | | York City as a center of commerce and arts and |
| square feet and called a "marvel" by the President. | | | | opened facilities there. In addition, he built and opened |
| Other piano manufacturers of that era include Knabe | | | | "Chickering Hall". Chickering Pianos were always |
| Pianoforte Company, Hazelton Piano, Steck Piano, | | | | awarded top honors, wherever they were exhibited. |
| Decker Brothers Piano Company, Mehlin Piano, Behr | | | | George, the youngest brother ran the Chickering |
| Brothers Piano, Strauch, Haines, Schuber, Victor | | | | Factory until his death at the end of the century. |
| Fletcher Piano, etc. Included in that group were | | | | Chickering Piano Company was one of chief rivals of |
| Steinway and Kimball piano companies who were the | | | | the Steinway Piano Company. By 1895, Steinway had |
| only two manufacturers to survive to date. | | | | well overshadowed Chickering in sales and reputation. |
| One of the key developments that enabled companies | | | | Chickering and Sons was eventually taken over by |
| like Chickering Piano Company to flourish during the | | | | American Piano Company. A large number of |
| late 19th century, were manufacturing improvements | | | | Chickering and Sons pianos remain in people's homes |
| that had been instituted earlier in the century. The | | | | throughout the U.S. to this day, especially in the |
| machine tool made it possible to precisely grind and | | | | northeast. |