Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Chickering: 1920s vs 1977 (both baby grand) vs 1986 upright

we take lots of time and bother when looking at vacation rentals to find one with a piano. [the four best in our journeys in the u.s. were all yamaha, and san juan puerto rico had a large steinway grand]. finally got around to buying a 'toy piano' (plastic, semi-weighted full size keys) to have something. for vacation stays ; any playable, almost in tune piano is a gift from the muses.

CSAD, if you lived 30min drive or less from me, I would discuss a deal with you to let me buy a piano for your house. This way you would have a cool acoustic piano to play and I would have a place to house a second acoustic grand. The deal would include me having a few piano sessions monthly at your house and of course other particulars. Airbnb with pianos!! One of my sons found my wife and I an Airbnb a few years back in the Pacific Palisades area of CA with a nice Steinway M. We stayed there for about two weeks(it was during or toward Covids end) About halfway through the stay, through some lucky investigating I found out the house(and piano) is owned by Louise Goffin, due to seeing that same name on some Amazon packages being left at the house. I only recognized the name because while combing through the collection of vinyl(it was allowed) at the house, I saw some albums covers with her name on them. So I thought cool I am staying at this recording artists house and playing her Steinway. Also once I had the connect, I almost immediately Googled her name to find out more about this artist. A minute later, BOOM, she is also one of Carole King's daughters! I bet Carole plays this same piano at some point when she visits her daughter!! My advice, is to upgrade your budget and by a nice piano. Three years a long time, especially if you start playing a lot. Good luck

A 1977 Chickering was made by Aeolian. A 1986 Chickering was made by Wurlitzer.

If the 1920's piano has been rebuilt, everything is in good condition, and it is well regulated and voiced, it probably would be the preferred instrument. I think as a generalization, Aeolian made better pianos than Wurlitzer, at least the ones sold under the Chickering name.

For a short-term rental unit like Airbnb, I'd suggest getting the piano that will require the least maintenance to keep it in service. Guests will be happy if the piano is in tune, reasonably well regulated, and has adequate tone.

Xam, appreciate the offer. I am up North so 6-7 hours from you though.

There are a few constraints with my current situation, budget is one but not the only. My hope is in 2-3 years I will have a more permanent home and, with other conditions met, might consider upgrading my budget.

The 1986 upright is sold. I'll look at the 1920s and 1977 tomorrow.

Can I, or a technician, look at the piano and tell if it's been rebuilt or not? Or is it solely based on the owner's words? The 1920s is from an old lady selling the piano of her late husband, and she doesn't know much about piano.

Rebuilt can mean a number of things. Evidence could be strings and hammers that look relatively new. There could be negative evidence of sloppy workmanship, such as uneven string coils on the tuning pins, and an uneven hammer line.

Unless the old Chickering was rebuilt many decades ago or has very minimal rebuilding, the price would be much, much greater. So I think the chances are high that it hasn't been rebuilt and would normally, considering its age, require a lot of expensive work to be decent. If you still want to consider it I suggest trying to find out more about it before making the trip.

If it had been rebuilt 25-30 years ago, it may still be a serviceable piano, but not easy for an individual to sell, hence at a low price. The issue with very inexpensive older pianos sold by individuals is that the buyer may have to spend unbounded time looking at problematic pianos until a serviceable one is found, and if the buyer cannot eliminate most of the problematic ones without hiring a tech, that would be an expense. It may be worth only investigating pianos that have been tuned at least once in the last 24 months to reduce the time spent. That may require looking at pianos above $1000.

What if it's something from 40-50 years ago but only played often in the the first few years, then just served mostly as a furniture? It's not been tuned recently but amazingly not much off-tune.

How about one around 1975, played only in the first few years, then barely played ever since (served as a furniture)? Everything original. It's not been tuned for a while, but amazingly not much out a tune

Someone who has not seen, played, or inspected a particular used piano cannot provide much advice specific to that piano other than steering you away from piano models known not to have been good quality instruments. For other pianos, condition is what matters.

You will need to have it inspected by a piano technician.

It could be fine for your purposes - if given a clean bill of heatlh by the piano tech.

I can't recall....have we discussed the asking price anywhere in this thread?

I purchased a new Everett studio upright in 1976, and it is still in the famliy (I played it at my daughter's house yesterday). We moved it with us to seven different states (eleven different houses). Probably tuned no more than ten times in 48 years, but all original and holds a tune quite well. If relatively well built in the beginning, pianos can last a long time.

Well the kids can "bang on it" when they are bored. .
😴 😀 Who knows perhaps the pinblock has survived a far greater fate than being just left in a house?

So I got to see 3 Chickering baby grand over the weekend.

The 1920s one is totally beat up.

The one we've been talking about, it's been serving a Musical school. They said it's 77-78 but the serial number is 222xxx so from this it's around 1966. It's regularly tuned, and in good cosmetic condition. Selling for around $1700

Another one I found which I mentioned in my last post ... this one is actually 1977 (serial number 241xxx). 1 owner, an old couple living in a quite nice city. Bought their house in 1974, and the piano soon after. They keep saying it's a 50 year-old piano so maybe it's 1974? Anyway, he said he bought the piano for his wife but then she didn't become serious about it, instead just playing chords and singing. So the piano is pretty much staying still for a long time. Not regularly tuned, but as I mentioned it's not too much off-tune (by my ears).

The keys on this 1977 feel a bit heavier than the 1966. Is it a good thing? Do you think it's also a sign that it's not played much?

The 1966 is actually in better cosmetic condition than the 1977. Doesn't mean that the 1977 is bad, but think of a few scratches around the legs, worn out here and there (see photos), and the keys are a bit dirty. Also partly because the 1966 color is brighter so more attractive to the eyes.

I'm leaning toward taking the 1977. Will bring a technician for a final estimate. Oh and the piano is selling for less than $1000 but I have a feeling if I ask I can get it for free. They are clearing out their house to sell and the piano is the only furniture remaining.

[img]https://photos.app.goo.gl/NuQgmhMonrTAFim18[/img]
[img]https://photos.app.goo.gl/hCZTPQtYejPyxL3Y9[/img]

One year in a music school equals several in the home of one diligently practicing player.

'baby grand' is almost meaningless as a descriptor. small Chickering grands of different lengths and model designations would have different string lengths, action components, and scale designs. g.gould preferred light and responsive actions, and expressed nostalgia for his elderly Chickering. what sold me on our 1918 vertical was both its light action and tone.

it's obviously true that a piano school instrument sees much more frequent use than the average home piano, but all piano schools aren't equal, nor do any of their practice pianos necessarily see the same use or maintenance.

the heavier action on the single-owner piano might be because it's a different model/design/action than the 1966 piano, or just a sign of neglect and dust/dirt inside the action. the OP didn't describe his inspection of the actions.

if cost is the primary concern and the single owner instrument is free . . . .

The lack of a brand name on the fallboard is maybe unusual for a 1-owner piano that has been sitting. It can be evidence that a piano was refinished and the refinisher did not bother to attach a branding decal.

Did you check for branding on the plate?

Yes I did check, it's there. The other photo was a bit too dark somehow we couldn't see it.

My technician said it's in excellent condition. I'm gonna take it.

Hi all, just want to give an update ... More than a month in and I cannot help but smile whenever I sit on the piano. I recently got it tuned with light service (oil). The technician also confirmed its great condition, of course, relative to its age. He said if he found one under $2K he would take and refinish it to sell at a higher price. The only thing he said is that its action is heavier than the modern piano and that could be challenging for my daughter, but it could also be a good thing to build her finger muscles.

It sounds amazing to me. I way prefer its warm sound over Yamaha. I played a few U1, U3, and even a 2007 C1 and found them all too bright. I don't have experience with others though.

Anyway, thank you all for the comments and suggestions. I'll try to record something and post it here when I have chance.

Thanks for the update! Sounds like you made a great purchase!! Definitely share a recording if you can. And in the meantime, enjoy!!