Chickering Quarter Grand Quality

[Robert Goodale]

Interesting enough I just bought a Chickering Quarter Grand from a 
client yesterday.  It is actually in pretty decent shape and was 
restrung about six years ago. Whoever did it seems to have done a decent 
job of it.  It formally had an Ampico player in it, (too bad some ding 
bat removed it), so it has big double legs which have some fancy 
turning.  The case is really nice with two-tone veneer pieces and a 
scrolled desk.  It could use a good refinishing although it does not 
look dark at all, only checked.  It is the Centennial special edition 
with a little brass plaque screwed to the plate.  I think it would look 
classy all buffed up and shined.  I only paid $1,800 for it.

Alan Meyer and I are going to make it a joint project.  We aren't going 
to do a full rebuild for lack of time and current space.  We are just 
going to fix it up nice and then resell it quick for money toward our 
shop.    I figure new hammers/shanks, dampers and front key bushings. 
 Six chipped ivory tops need to be replaced.  I'm going to sand it down 
and fill the checking with sealer and then shoot it with a coat of 
lacquer.  After a good rub down it should look half way decent.  I'm 
sure we could unload it fast for about $5,000.00,  (does anyone have an 
opinion on this?)  Sometime I would like to do a complete restoration on 
one of these, I think there is a lot of potential there.

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV



Farrell wrote:

>I service a 5' 7" 1907 Chickering Quarter Grand, scale 121. Just tuned it today. Just curious if anyone has rebuilt one of these - what kind of results has anyone had. It appears to be a massively built piano. Very heavy sawn inner rim laminated outer rim. Heavy bracing underneath, all arranged in a rather splendid manner. Back scale on both the long bridge and bass bridge a "country mile" long - I know Del would like that. 52 mm C88 speaking length. It only has five ribs on the whole soundboard!
>
>Looks to me like a piano that would respond very well to an efficient soundboard, maybe a separate low tenor bridge, etc., etc.,. The width of this piano is only about two inches wider than the 88-note keyboard.
>
>When did Aeolian turn the Chickerings into....well,.... let's just say - not what they once were?
>
>Terry Farrell
>  
>