Chickering & Sons Grand Piano



Posted: Sunday, March 20, 2011

by Veronica Barron
Antique Piano Restoration Inc.

The year was 1923 when a nation-wide observance of the Jonas Chickering Centennial marked the completion of a full century of artistic musical venture of the Chickering house, Calvin Coolidge, then Vice-President, was main speaker at the banquet in Boston on April 21st.

Jonas Chickering was the founder of this illustrious house, who’s name is inseparable connected with many of the most eminent piano improvements of all time. He had already learned utterly the cabinet making trade, and his education had been thorough. He soon began a course of serious study of the art of piano making, 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, this evolution of immeasurable significance, laid the foundation of the recognition which has ever since been accorded his name. So universally has the importance of this development 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 cause of pride to the existing management and of awareness to all music lovers. It illustrates the vast advance in piano building between the early days of the piano and the immense concert grands of today.

In 1852 Jonas Chickering took into partnership his three sons, all of whom had received a practical preparation. C. Frank Chickering proved the inheritor of his father's genius and as a "scale" draughtsman soon became widely known. To his dimensional and linked studies are to be attributed much of the legendary beauty of the Chickering tone. The secrets of this invaluable experience he imparted to chiefs in the Boston factory, in whose gifts he had confidence, this 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 reputation which may be described as mechanical subtleties which are an important part of the Chickering system.

Chickering & Sons have been recipients of upwards of 150 marks of honor both in the United States and Europe, in the form of diplomas, 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. Today there must be accorded to the factory heads and business management the acknowledgment that the Chickering piano stands on higher plane of merit than at any time in its history. The company was persistent in maintaining the name of the loftiest height, and today this determination to preserve an honorable pride governs every endeavor.

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