Ric and Del, An answer to the question about model location on Chickering and a count of ribs on the 133. There is a model number stamped on the plate. Depending on the age of the piano this may be on the side of the strut just above the upper bass, it may be on the plate webbing itself, or may, finally be at the tail on the left side of the plate. The plates themselves, at least, or in my experience those up to the forties or so, follow a design sequence which can be associated with the scale designations, their ages and locations. The open plate and by this is meant the plate with an open area above the right side of the soundboard - that is a plate which does not completely cover the soundboard on the right at the curve, begins sometime in the late nineteenth century. There are five or six configurations of plates that I am aware of that span the period from about 1860 to 1950s. Chronologically, this would be the third one. It is used on the 121, 122, 123, 133, the concert grand which I don't know the model number of, and perhaps others. The earlier pianos of this type that I have seen have the model number, name of the company(Chickering, of course), and location (Boston, U.S.A.) stamped on the side of the strut as described above. A little later the stamped info was decreased in quantity and placed on the webbing. Subsequently, somewhere perhaps, in the mid-teens this style plate was abandonded and a new configuration substituted in place. The newer plate now covers, with the plate holes, the right side of the plate in the normal fashion, held down by bolts around the perimeter of the soundboard. An unusual feature of this plate is the substitution of a curved, rolled area just interior to the plate bolts which is the Chickering form of the flange or cupola on Steinway style systems. During the period of the late eighteenth century Chickering plates, in an earlier incarnation not described, had a very impressive coat of arms, for the absence of a better term, cast into the plate. This eventually became the plate decal seen on later style plates. On the plate configuration used following the open system just described, there is much less info: the model number is cast into the plate at the back, left side of the tail. Finally, at sometime, I think, in the early twenties the plate was changed again. This time to a more conventional cupola plate: the rolled area in the casting was eliminated, and the shape of the plate holes changed. This is the plate, I think, which is used on the Anniversary Grand. On reflection, I am not sure of this particular point. Anyway, the location of the model designation was maintained on the back. left side at the tail. The 121 became, along with other new features, the 135; the 133, I think exists, in both styles, although I am not very familiar with this model, the earlier 123 became the 123 A,B,or C, and there is a very unusual, remarkable, eight foot piano, the 235, and the nine foot which is the 141. The 141's also have variants labeled with a letter following the model number. On the subject of the 133, on which I posted an inaccurate commentary earlier, I did count the ribs on the board removed from one in my shop. There were nine. The bass bridge was cantilevered and an unusual feature of this piano, something it has in common with the 121, was a cantilever for the tenor end of the long bridge. The last seven unisons are cantilevered away from the point of attachment of the bridge with the last being about two and a half inches past the glue line. It does not, however, approach the rim. I am not familiar with the sound of this piano. The one I had had been ruined by exposure to weather and I could not evaluate the sound. However, I have been told that these are great sounding pianos and believe this to be the case. Regards, Robin Hufford Richard Moody wrote: > Is there a mark on the piano indicating the model number. Where > do you find it. I have an Anniversary grand. Is the "quarter > grand" a trade name or designation by Chickering. Does it have > a model number? > Thanks ---rm > > >....................... > That would be 1923. The 135 and the > 133 were at that time Chickering,s most > popular models. > > The 133 was quickley replaced by the > 123-A 123-B 123C. The latter were great > scales. Far far better than the 133. > > Regards, > Jack Wyatt > .......................< > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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