Chickering Quarter Grand Quality

[Farrell]

Is this to suggest that laquer does not get that "alligator skin" look to it?

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "w peterson" <wpeterson2@socal.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 12:40 AM
Subject: Re: Chickering Quarter Grand Quality


> If it is checking it has a shellac finish on it.  If you carefully strip it
> with a rag saturated in alcohol, you can preserve the old stain and patina.
> I would then give it a coat of brushed satin varnish.  I guarantee it will
> look like a museum piece.
> 
> Bill Peterson
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert Goodale <rrg@unlv.edu>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:25 PM
> Subject: Re: Chickering Quarter Grand Quality
> 
> 
> > 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
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>