The Collection
Chickering Pianos: The “Golden Age” Collection
For the very first time, a private investor has agreed to loan, donate, or sell his prized collection, containing all nine of the original Chickering grand piano models, all fully restored to their authentic, extraordinary beauty. They were designed by Chickering and Sons during the “Golden Age” period from the 1890 to 1908. These pianos were meticulously rebuilt to look and sound like they did when they were first released. This collection is impeccable, but not intended to be considered a historic recreation.
This collection has been expertly maintained by master technicians, with many replacement parts custom designed and procured for each model. The Tokiwa Company in Japan engineered these components to fit the Chickering action trays. Each component has been incorporated into this collection because they offer the same light touch and warm tones as the originals.
Here are the specifications and photos of all Chickering pianos included in the collection.
Standard Grand Pianos Designed in the early and mid 1890s
| Scale Number: | 105D (Concert Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #110926 |
| Production Date: | 1907 |
| Length: | 8’7” |
| Plate: | Yacht Tail |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: This piano was discovered in San Francisco, California. It was previously owned by a music professor, and had been restored at least once before, although its condition had deteriorated due to years of sun damage.
Price available upon request.
| Scale Number: | 110B (Semi-Concert Grand) |
| Serial Number: | TBD |
| Production Date: | TBD |
| Length: | 7’8” |
| Plate: | Yacht Tail |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: Chickering changed Styles on the Scale 110B around 1895. The earlier version had more elaborate carving on the sides of the case and the legs were done in Chickering’s Style U. The later versions had no carving on the sides and the legs were the reeded ‘ice cream cone’ style.
Price available upon request.
| Scale Number: | 109C (Parlor Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #89915 |
| Production Date: | 1898 |
| Length: | 6’3” |
| Plate: | Yacht Tail |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: Discovered in Indiana, this piano’s original soundboard was not damaged, but its lid was broken. The original legs and music desk had been replaced and the ivory keys were cracked and chipped. Fortunately, a second Scale 109C was located in the Los Angeles area. The second 109C had a damaged soundboard that could not be restored, but it had the correct legs and music desk, a good lid, and a perfect set of ivory keys. By putting the good legs, music desk, lid, and keys from the second piano onto the first piano, the restorers were able to rebuild the first piano with outstanding results.
Price available upon request.
Standard Grand Pianos Designed in the early 1900s
| Scale Number: | 131 (Concert Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #125106 |
| Production Date: | 1915 |
| Length: | 8’9” |
| Plate: | Continuous Bent Rim |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: This piano was painted with grapevines along the side of the case, framing an enormous Italian village scene on the underside of the lid. These decorative elements made the piano a showpiece for a Beverly Hills homeowner. The piano was in good condition when it was purchased, despite the elaborate paint job. The soundboard, plate, pinblock and strings were in excellent shape, but the piano did not appear to have been tuned very often; suggesting that it had been used more as decorative furniture than as a musical instrument. Unfortunately, the original ivory key tops had been replaced, and they could not be restored.
Price available upon request.
| Scale Number: | 119 (Semi Concert Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #95197 |
| Production Date: | 1901 |
| Length: | 7’6” |
| Plate: | Continuous Bent Rim |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: This piano hails from Waukegan, Illinois. Of all the pianos in the collection, it appeared to have been used more than any other. The keys were very worn down. Many of the key tops had been replaced with salvaged ivories that did not match. In addition, some of the original action parts had been damaged and replaced by a technician. To get the replacement parts to fit, the technician modified the action tray. Fortunately, a second Scale 119 was located in Seattle, Washington with a beautiful set of keys and an excellent action tray, unmodified and in original condition. The restorers were able to install the good action tray from the second piano in the first.
Price available upon request.
| Scale Number: | 116 (Parlor Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #91085 |
| Production Date: | 1899 |
| Length: | 6’4” |
| Plate: | Continuous Bent Rim |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: This piano came from Northern California in remarkable condition. The piano had never been restored and still contained its original strings. The soundboard and pin block were pristine and did not need to be replaced or repaired. This piano had been played continuously by its respectful owners, so the ivory keys were perfect.
Price available upon request.
Small Grand Pianos Designed in the early 1900s
| Scale Number: | 123 (Parlor Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #105562 |
| Production Date: | 1905 |
| Length: | 6’4” |
| Plate: | Anderson |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: This piano, purchased in Los Angeles had two serious issues. First, one of the ribs had come unglued from the soundboard, creating a buzzing noise. In an attempt to solve the problem, someone had wedged a piece of wood against the soundboard, stifling the sound. Second, during an earlier restoration, the piano had been painted with a black exterior house paint. During the restoration process, the ribs were re-glued and the case was stripped and sanded so that a proper new finish could be applied.
Price available upon request.
| Scale Number: | 121 (Quarter Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #108712 |
| Production Date: | 1906 |
| Size: | 5’6” |
| Plate: | Anderson |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: The Scale 121 in this collection is a unique combination of two pianos. One Scale 121 piano was purchased from an owner in Winona, Minnesota. It had been modified extensively to accommodate an electrical player piano system that it no longer contained. This modification could not be undone. A second Scale 121 was found in Tucson, Arizona with a soundboard and internal components in excellent shape, although there were serious problems with the case. Technicians were able to salvage parts from the first piano and install them in the second piano to expertly complete this restoration.
Price available upon request.
| Scale Number: | 122 (Petite Quarter Grand) |
| Serial Number: | #105467 |
| Production Date: | 1905 |
| Size: | 5’0” |
| Plate: | Anderson |
| Action: | Chickering Erard |
Detail: Purchased in Chicago, IL, the collection’s first Scale 122 piano turned out to be a challenging restoration project because its soundboard had been badly repaired. Another Scale 122 from Orange County, CA became available, but that piano had damaged case parts. Using parts from the first piano on the second one produced an excellent restoration.
Price available upon request.