Orange Coast Piano Inc.
Since 1981
CHICKERING COUNTRY
HISTORY OF CHICKERING & SONS
Chickering & Sons celebrated in 1923 the completion of a century of continuous manufacture of the Chickering pianos. This illustrious firm, the oldest piano house in the United States, has been at all times in the forefront and has received world wide recognition for its part in developing the pianoforte on distinctive lines. Jonas Chickering, the founder, was born at Mason Village, New Hampshire, in April 1796, where, after a sound schooling, he thoroughly learned the business of cabinetmaking. Impelled by a restless ambition to seek a larger field, he went to Boston in his early twenties.
There he entered the factory of a well-known piano maker of those days and pursued a course of study in piano making in its then primitive stage. It was not long before the genius of Jonas Chickering manifested itself, and he introduced a series of changes and improvements which have since become standard and which revolutionized the methods then prevailing.
His name from the earliest times has been constantly linked with the Americanizing of the piano by methods of such importance and value that both America and Europe today admit their worth by universal adoption. To him must be ascribed the invention of the full iron plate for grand pianos recorded in 1837.
This invention was accepted by the scientific world as one of far reaching importance; indeed, it proved to be the foundation of all modern piano construction, for without it the sonorous grand's of today would not have been impossible. It successfully solved the problem of the proper support for the great strain of the strings and defined a new era in the history of piano-making.
In 1843, Jonas Chickering invented a new deflection of the strings and in 1845 the first practical method for over stringing in square pianos, that is, instead of setting the strings side by side, substituting an arrangement of them in two banks, one over the other, not only saving space but bringing the powerful bass strings directly over the most resonant part of the sound-board, a principle which obtains to this day in the construction of all pianos, both grand's and uprights.
Until the year 1852, Jonas Chickering superintended each department of his business with his usual scrupulous care but was relieved of much of this responsibility upon his taking into partnership his three sons, all of whom had received under their father a practical training of the highest order.
The genius of C. Frank Chickering as a "scale" draftsman soon became internationally know and acknowledged and to his extensive scientific research is to be attributed much of the renowned beauty of the Chickering tone. Not content with retaining this invaluable knowledge himself he imparted the secrets of his studies to those in the factory in whose gifts he had confidence, thus insuring their perpetuation.
In addition to the many patents taken out by Jonas Chickering, his sons and their successors, various methods exclusive to themselves have also been employed and there are in constant use operations of an abstract character which may be described as mechanical subtleties possessing great value and which are an integral part of the Chickering system.
The above outline of the significant importance of the Chickering system will appeal to the practical minded but to those who would know more of the romance and charm which the Chickering story holds for the student of America's musical development. The significance and historic value of the Chickering in the development of the pianoforte in America are seen in the preservation at the Ford Museum at Dearborn of several important Chickering including the very first instrument made by Jonas Chickering in 1823.
Others are: the first Chickering upright made in 1830 and the first Chickering grand completed prior to 1850. Chickering & Sons have received upwards of 200 first medals and awards. These have been received from States and sovereigns, and international expositions and learned societies in all parts of the world embracing every known method of honoring distinguished merit. C. Frank Chickering was personally vested with the Imperial Cross of the Legion of Honor at the hands of Napoleon 111.
The significance of this high honor is the more appreciated because of its extreme rarity, very few such honors having been bestowed for accomplishments in the fine arts. In 1923 Chickering & Sons were the recipients of a remarkable tribute from musicians and persons of prominence in all walks of life who united in celebrating the Hundredth Anniversary of the founding of Jonas Chickering's epoch making enterprises.
A committee headed by the Hon. Calvin Coolidge (then Vice) President of the United States, carried to a successful and brilliant conclusion what was termed the Jonas Chickering Centennial Celebration, culminating in a banquet held at the Copley Plaza, Boston, at which Mr. Coolidge was the chief speaker.
It marked in a most significant manner a century of musical achievement that is without parallel in the history of American piano making. The most famous virtuosi including pianists, singers and instrumentalists have exhausted superlatives in expressing their high admiration of the Chickering. The Handel and Haydn Society of Boston the world's foremost oratorio group, established 1815, has used the Chickering exclusively for more than a century.
The grand and upright pianos and the grand's and uprights with the Ampico, which bear this famous name, possess the distinction which belongs to the oldest continuous piano industry in the United States. In the year 1923 a nation wide observance of the Jonas Chickering Centennial marked the completion of a full century of artistic musical endeavor of the Chickering house. Calvin Coolidge, then Vice President, was the principal speaker at the banquet in Boston on April 21st.
The founder of this illustrious house was Jonas Chickering whose name is inseparably associated with many of the most important piano improvements of all time. He was born in Mason Village, N. H., on April 17, 1759, and in his early twenties he went to Boston. He had already learned thoroughly the cabinet making trade, and his education had been thorough. He soon entered the employ of the pioneers' piano maker of those days, and began a course of serious study of the art which was to engross his life.
The genius of Jonas Chickering soon made itself apparent and his industry kept pace. He revolutionized the methods of piano building, and with the introduction of his full iron plate, an advance of measureless importance, laid the foundation of the recognition which has ever since been accorded his name.
So universally has the importance of this improvement been recognized that pianos are no longer made without it. It is but a short time back that the first Chickering piano ever made was repurchased by the Boston house and it is now in possession of the company, a source of pride to the present management and of interest to all music lovers.
It illustrates the vast advance in piano building between the early days of the piano and the massive concert grand's of today. In 1883 Jonas Chickering took into partnership his three sons, all of whom had received a practical training. C. Frank Chickering proved the inheritor of his father's genius, and as a" scale' draftsman soon became widely known.
To his dimensional and correlated studies are to be attributed much of the renowned beauty of the Chickering tone. The secrets of this invaluable knowledge he imparted to chiefs in the Boston factory, in whose gifts he had confidence, thus insuring their perpetuation. Not only were many patents taken out by Jonas Chickering, his sons and their successors, but various methods exclusive to themselves have also been employed, and there are in constant use operations of an abstract character which maybe described as mechanical subtleties which are an integral part of the Chickering system.
Chickering & Sons have been recipients of upwards of 150 marks of distinction both in the United States and Europe, in the form of diploma, gold medals, and letters from learned bodies. C. Frank Chickering himself was personally invested with the Imperial Cross of the Legion of Honor by the hands of Napoleon III.
Less than ten such honors having been bestowed for accomplishment in the fine arts, which fact adds significance to the distinction. Every recognized means of showing marked appreciation has been employed in all parts of the world. The most famous virtuosi have exhausted eulogistic language In declaring their admiration of the Chickering piano. But Chickering & Sons have never rested upon laurels won.
The Chickering of today has kept pace with the exacting demands made upon the piano by present day artists. During the present season the Chickering Concert Grand's are contributing to the aesthetic success artists as Dohnanyi, Mirovitch, Schnitzer, Levine, and many others of the highest rank. Remarkable in employees.
There are men living who worked with Jonas Chickering, a long life time of service which the house has been glad to honor. There are also scores who have been engaged in the Chickering departments for periods a running from 25 to nearly 50 years. This implies loyalty and esprit de corps invaluable in this art industry, and which is a reflection of its atmosphere. The House of Chickering stands in unquestioned financial strength and enjoys an integrity which has been its proud possession from the beginning.
The list of pianists, composers, and musicians who have since its inception used and endorsed the Chickering piano is much to long to include here. Several decades ago, this great house of pianos, content with its already rich background of achievement on the concert stage, turned its attention to the perfection of the smaller piano. The Chickering is essentially a piano for the home. Pianos of the highest degree of quality, both in craftsmanship and materials, worthy of completely rebuilding and refinishing.
1823 - 100 1940 - 167200 1964 - 219221 1974 - 235824
1850 - 10000 1943 - 179500 1965 - 221117 1975 - 237578
1905 - 105000 1947 - 187000 1967 - 224943 1977 - 240626
1910 - 115000 1950 - 195000 1968 - 226928 1978 - 242694
1919 - 130000 1955 - 204000 1969 - 228651 1979 - 244266
1920 - 132500 1960 - 212750 1970 - 230300 1980 - 245989
1925 - 139700 1961 - 214527 1971 - 231317 1981 - 247477
1930 - 148400 1962 - 216488 1972 - 232410 1982 - 248500
1935 - 155200 1963 - 217830 1973 - 234059 July 22, 1982Built by Wurlitzer owned by Baldwin. Entry level pianos during late 1980's, early 1990's.
1986 - 1885000 1988 - 2002000 1990 - 2080001 1987 - 1935000
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