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And now, for something completely different –
I only wish, as I'm now thoroughly confused.
Yesterday noon paid a visit to the little, vintage Chickering. Found a serial number, NOT in the usual, triangular position on the frame, in the midst of the tuning pins, but rather on the side of a tangential cross member, north of the dampers.
181018
- a number that indicates that this little piano was made in Rochester. I didn't know that AEolian-America made quarter grands but this piano is very definitely to that pattern, with the tiny key cheeks.
Just when I thought my confusion was complete, I found the number 125 on the extreme tail-end of the frame. I thought that 125 was a number given to Chickering concert grands, not pianos of about 5'2" !
Big question here: did the Rochester factory produce actions with the infamous brass flange ? Although my tech has yet to make his visit, I can tell you that my memory of the piano did not deceive: the wood and its finish are simply gorgeous and the style is what I would describe as Moderne. The keyboard is beautiful, perfect ivories with wide accidentals - sooooo comfortable. The key length looks to be of the old, shorter variety, not unlike my family's Mason from the 20s.
It's the 1940 vintage serial number that throws me as the piano looks to be a bit older. It's certainly had extremely light use over the years.
I guess we won't know about the action until it's pulled-out and examined.
ANY thoughts GRATEFULLY appreciated.
Karl
Last edited by Karl Watson; 10/07/16 08:11 AM.
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Yes, it's typical to find the serial number printed on the side of a strut on Chickerings. The serial number you listed indicates it was built in 1943. The action won't have those brass flanges. Hopefully, it still has the original hammers. They were usually replaced with heavier hammers which would often make the action very heavy. Does it looks like this piano? And are you sure it's not a model 135? The model number is embossed on the tail end of the plate. http://www.pianocenter.com/shop/gra...ing-52-baby-grand-beautiful-satin-walnut
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Dear Ed A. Hall: Thank you very much for your last. No - I'm NOT completely sure about the model no. as the light was poor. Thank you for sending that example, which looks very normative. The piano I'm looking at has a semi-art case, very fussy about the lid and music desk. Your example resembles mine only as regards the keyboard and cheek blocks. Your iron frame is quite different from mine. Strange, when you think about it. Thanks again, VERY much. I soooooooooo hope you're right about the action. Karl Watson, Staten Island, NY
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And now, for something completely different –
I only wish, as I'm now thoroughly confused.
Yesterday noon paid a visit to the little, vintage Chickering. Found a serial number, NOT in the usual, triangular position on the frame, in the midst of the tuning pins, but rather on the side of a tangential cross member, north of the dampers.
181018
- a number that indicates that this little piano was made in Rochester. I didn't know that AEolian-America made quarter grands but this piano is very definitely to that pattern, with the tiny key cheeks.
Just when I thought my confusion was complete, I found the number 125 on the extreme tail-end of the frame. I thought that 125 was a number given to Chickering concert grands, not pianos of about 5'2" !
Big question here: did the Rochester factory produce actions with the infamous brass flange ? Although my tech has yet to make his visit, I can tell you that my memory of the piano did not deceive: the wood and its finish are simply gorgeous and the style is what I would describe as Moderne. The keyboard is beautiful, perfect ivories with wide accidentals - sooooo comfortable. The key length looks to be of the old, shorter variety, not unlike my family's Mason from the 20s.
It's the 1940 vintage serial number that throws me as the piano looks to be a bit older. It's certainly had extremely light use over the years.
I guess we won't know about the action until it's pulled-out and examined.
ANY thoughts GRATEFULLY appreciated.
Karl Can you post any pictures of this piano? Front, side and inside showing the tuning pin field, the string layout and the bridges. ddf
Delwin D Fandrich Piano Research, Design & Manufacturing Consultant ddfandrich@gmail.com (To contact me privately please use this e-mail address.)
Stupidity is a rare condition, ignorance is a common choice. --Anon
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Del: I'm so technically challenged that I just have a little flip-open phone. Realise that this would help so I'll see what I can do. Karl
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Friends: About the above serial no. I wonder about a date of 1943. Surely there was NO piano production, anywhere, at this time. Or am I mistaken ? Karl
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there are a few possible explanations for the otherwise unusual date of production for the piano. back then, there were still many manufacturing facilities for pianos. they probably weren't all completely converted to making parts for war machines or transport vehicles by '43, and a few companies might have been granted limited exemptions for making instruments. a manufacturer like Baldwin also could have had an inventory on hand from '42 (for the u.s. of course its initial war year) of pianos .90 completed, then given a limited quota they could finish and market in '43.
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Sounds intriguing and exciting. Looking forward to hearing how your investigation progresses!
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I have an SD-6 from 1943. It was in the H.S. Auditorium of Ketchikan AK. I think Baldwin must have been able to fulfill the order because so many U.S. Military Personnel were posted there.
In a seemingly infinite universe-infinite human creativity is-seemingly possible. According to NASA, 93% of the earth like planets possible in the known universe have yet to be formed. Contact: toneman1@me.com
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Friends: About the above serial no. I wonder about a date of 1943. Surely there was NO piano production, anywhere, at this time. Or am I mistaken ? Karl Steinway made the "Victory" console upright specifically for the military -- It has a very simple case with rounded edges everywhere. There was an initial materials panic here in the USA after Pearl Harbor. But that was pretty much over by '43. El Alemein in November '42 was the turning point.
-- J.S. Knabe Grand # 10927 Yamaha CP33 Kawai FS690
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churchill's phrase after the critical victory at El Alamein which enabled the brits to push westward and end the pressure on Egypt -- 'the end of the beginning'. as far as materials, the brits were still under great pressure through '43 because of the u boat impact on the north atlantic lifeline. there were huge shipping losses in '43. the critical turning points were Stalingrad, and the capture of a naval cypher apparatus(the 'enigma') which made all the german coded communications transparent. amerikan kapitalism however in its way was a complement to their german competitors and partners (didn't Bayer, complicit with war crimes but resuscitated and part of reconstruction, recently make a bid to buy Monsanto, pillager of the environment ?), and the well-connected enterprises like Baldwin or Steinway found ways to continue limited bidness.
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