[CAUT] Old Chickerings

[Bob Hull]

Chickering Discussion Readers: 

I agree with Kent Webb that we shouldn't judge a piano
based upon how challenging it is to repair or
regulate.  Performance ability is a much more
important consideration.

I think I began this thread by telling of my encounter
with a Quarter Grand at one of my colleges.
I didn't say I liked or disliked this piano.  I only
said that it had some features I had not encountered
before and I asked whether it was decent piano when it
was in better shape.   It is difficult to tell now
because it is so worn out.  

Pianos can be judged by how well they stand up to the
demands of heavy usage and the aging process.  Since
this is in a college I think it has been used heavily
and perhaps even donated to the school in an already
worn condition. 

How well has it stood up to the years of playing?
Specifically, if the wippens are attached with brass
flanges like some older uprights, then these have not
held up as well as other wippen flanges of the same
age and usage.

Other aspects of the piano seem to have stood up to
wear in a normal fashion but, I didn't make any
thorough investigations. The brass hammer flanges (the
piano is not in front of me but aren't these brass?)
may be stronger and more stable than wood flanges.

My point is that not only is a piano judged by its
ability to perform, but also by how well it stands up
to performance demands over a period of time.

As far as charging more, I guess its like the higher
maintenance fees you have on a BMW.  If you want that
kind of performance you must pay for it! Just be sure
you aren't paying higher fees because you drive a
"Yugo".  Now, the Yugo lovers are going to get me.

Bob Hull

Kent Webb <kw88keys at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hello All,
> 
> I happened to catch this thread and let me add
> something I sometimes touch on in classes. 
> 
> We as technicians must be very careful about the
> criteria by which we judge or recommend pianos. It
> is
> not based on the ease of service but on the ability
> of
> the piano to perform music. 
> 
> If a piano is more difficult to service we should
> certainly charge accordingly. The benefits to the
> pianist are worth it and the extra time and
> expertise
> justify the costlier service. For comparison sake, I
> feel sure that comparable work on a Ferrari costs
> more
> than on a Chevy due to the parts and expertise
> required but, knowing a few Ferrari owners, I never
> hear them complain about the costs of service. They
> just want the best performance possible and realize
> that is what it takes to achieve this.
> 
> Kent Webb
> 
> 
> 
> --- Delwin D Fandrich <fandrich at pianobuilders.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > Jim,
> > 
> > As usual you make some good points. I, also, am a
> > fan of the small Chickerings
> > and would like to add just one observation. 
> > 
> > While I have listened to many technicians
> criticize
> > these pianos because they
> > are designed somewhat differently and working on
> > them takes a certain degree of
> > creativity, it is rare to encounter an owner who
> > does not love his or her
> > Chickering Quarter Grand. It is rare to find an
> > owner willing to part with one.
> > 
> > Del
> > 
> > | -----Original Message-----
> > | From: caut-bounces at ptg.org
> > [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> > | Behalf Of James Ellis
> > | Sent: March 18, 2006 5:33 PM
> > | To: caut at ptg.org
> > | Subject: [CAUT] Old Chickerings
> > | 
> > | Let's not be quite so quick to bad-mouth those
> old
> > 
> > | Chickerings, the latest of which was a Quarter
> > Grand.  Yes, 
> > | the Quarter Grand was a fancy parlor grand, and
> a
> > departure 
> > | from the big heavy models of the 1900-1910
> period.
> >  
> > | 
> > | As for the dampers that screwed on and damper
> > wires that were 
> > | threaded on both ends - those were standard with
> > Chickering 
> > | for years.  Did anyone notice that those wires
> are
> > straight, 
> > | with no "dog-legs" to make the dampers line up?
> > Those wippens 
> > | and shanks at diverging angles, and those
> > repetition lever 
> > | springs that loop into silk cords on each end
> are
> > a pain to 
> > | regulate, but once you get them regulated, they
> > provide 
> > | repetition that's second to none.  There are
> other
> > features 
> > | that may seem strange to many of you, but if you
> > will look 
> > | more closely, you may see some logic to what
> > Chickering did 
> > | from time to time - those pinblocks that were
> > integrated with 
> > | the plate instead of the case, for example.
> > | 
> > | I own three 100-year-old Chickerings right now -
> a
> > scale 116, 
> > | a scale 119, and a scale 131 concert grand. 
> Those
> > wooden 
> > | action brackets have not swelled or shrunk one
> bit
> > that I can 
> > | tell, and the actions stay regulated.
> > | They slide smoothly on the keybeds when the una
> > corda is 
> > | used, and do not knock, despite the fact that
> > there are no 
> > | glides in the key frames.
> > | 
> > | Jim Ellis
> > | 
> > | _______________________________________________
> > | caut list info:
> > https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> > | 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 


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