Chickering Info.

[Ken Eschete]

>List,
>
>Does anyone know of someone who might be an "expert" on old Chickering grands?
>
>I was called to go look at one the other day because of an insurance 
>claim for a little flood damage. The water only got up high enough 
>to damage the legs and pedal lyre a little. The water was only there 
>app 4-6 hrs. and the power was back on the next morning. It seems 
>like everything else is OK, at least for the time being. However, I 
>did caution her that there is no guarantee that no more problems 
>would develop over the next several years.
>
>Anyway, what I need is an approximate pre-flood value for the insurance.
>
>Serial number is 17232 (1855 - 1860, according to Pierce).
>
>It's app. 6-1/2' long (maybe a little longer) with a fairly ornate 
>case, legs and pedal lyre.
>
>It's straight strung in the bass (5 singles & 13 doubles), with only 
>2 string unisons all the way through #88 and agraffes all the way to 
>the top.
>
>The dampers are very small (short).
>
>The soundboard seems to be in good shape and it actually has a 
>fairly decent sound for an instrument that old.
>
>One possible problem with the value of it might be previous 
>rebuilding work that's been done. Did Chickerings that old have the 
>leather covered hammers? This one doesn't but they were probably 
>replace when the instrument was refinished, restrung, etc.
>
>The keytops have also been replaced with one-piece plastic which 
>hangs over the edge too far.
>
>Another local tech has looked at it and done some book research on 
>it and gave her an app. value of $55,000 to $125,000 (a pretty wide 
>range) :-) with it probably in the $90,000 range. I know very little 
>about instruments of this age, but that seems like a pretty high 
>value to me. Especially if any historical significance has been 
>affected by the previous work done on it.
>
>The same tech gave an estimate of about $22,000 to rebuild and 
>refinish. Probably purposely on the high side to protect her in case 
>other problems were found. It's in fairly nice shape except for the 
>cracks in the legs and needing to refurbish the pedals because of 
>the flood. It plays decently for an instrument that old.
>
>Any comments or referrals to someone who might know?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Avery
>Houston (Flood city, USA) :-)


Dear Avery,
  Chickering grand pianos from 1855-1860 were being produced at an 
average rate of 1320 per year, placing this instrument at about 1857. 
My guess is that it has a Brown Action and not a modern action. 
Anyway, being a manufactured object with no special ornamentation 
(not an art case), my guess is that the instrument  is worth quite a 
bit less than $55,000.  They certainly are not rare.

The basic question for an appraisal is this, "How much would I have 
to pay to buy another instrument like this on today's market."  In 
Boston, these instruments are not hard to find, and my guess is that 
a similar instrument that has been rebuilt, could be obtained for 
$15,000 - $20,000.

The expert you are looking for will be in the Boston area.  I suggest 
you contact David Betts at the North Bennett St. School in Boston. 
Phone number is in any PTG Journal.

Sincerely,

Ken Eschete
Northwestern University










-- 
Kenneth Eschete
Supervisor of Keyboard Maintenance            Phone: 847/467-6970
Northwestern University School of Music	    FAX: 847/491-5260 
				    711 Elgin Rd.; Evanston, Il 60208

  EMAIL: k-eschete@northwestern.edu