1925 Chickering Grand Piano (5 foot)

[justincaleb]

Does anyone have information on the quality of a 1925 Chickering grand piano? I understand that the American Piano Company bought out Chickering in 1908, and some say the quality of the Chickering pianos was not as good after that. Would a Steinway piano from that same time period be better made? I know Steinways are generally worth much more than Chickerings, but are they truly better instruments? Or are we paying more for name recognition? 

[chopin2015]

I have a 1932 Chickering with Ivory keys, fully restored and original soundboard in tact. I love it! It is the most beautiful piano I have ever played on, unless there are steinways with ivory that you know of!! 

[hfmadopter]

At that age and size it really depends on condition as to if the Steinway is the better piano or not. A great condition or rebuilt Chickering and a run down Steinway being compared, then the Chickering will play better but the Steinway may still hold more monetary value. That value is there if you are buying or selling the piano, so you could own the Steinway for some time and it still has value when you sell it to upgrade someday.. But meanwhile you really enjoyed your great condition Chickeringhad you bought that ! A run down Chickering I believe is not worth a lot of money.

Some lesser brand names are really good pianos. I have never played extensively on a 5ft Chickering but have played a larger one and found it to be very good in both sound and action. As my piano teachers 5'1" Steinway was let go as she aged and didn't maintain it any longer it got to be quite the rat to play but it was immaculate, I'm sure when she passed on the piano went for a healthy sum, it just needed regulation and tuning.. Fit, finish, keys, gold harp, tuning pin finish and strings and polished ebony were all perfect on that piano.


To my knowledge Chickering always had a good name . There may have been something lesser about post 1920 Chickerings but I doubt it is much to write home about. Chickering is  a brand I'm fond of only because of my experience in playing the one I played on in a performance I put on. I knew a person who had a small one in their livingroom as well but other than playing Fur Elise on it one time I don't recall much about it.


David