Grand piano
Maker
Chickering & Sons
Date1884
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
ModelStyle 30 Scale 95
Serial No.68245
SignedChickering / BOSTON / U.S.A.MarkingsPainted on soundboard: Chickering & Sons, Boston, U.S.A.
A medal: HONNEUR ET PATRIE
Two seals: NAPOLEON III, EMPEREUR and CHICKERINGS
Cast into the iron frame: CHICKERING & SONS \ 95
Stamped on both cheekblocks: 8712 \ JACHARLTON
In pencil on treble cheekblock: 68248
Stamped on front of case under keyframe: 8712
Label underneath keybed: No. [not legible] \ Davis & Godfrey \ Scale, 95
In pencil, bass side of action: Richmond \ 1-18-21
DescriptionThis piano shipped on October 15, 1884 to R. Lentz of Baltimore, Maryland, likely a retailer. It is described in the Chickering ledger as a rosewood grand of 7-1/4 octave compass (88 notes) with straight molding, carved legs, Swiss action (Erard/Herz action as opposed to the Edwin Brown action Chickering also offered at the time), Scale 95, Style 30. (Information provided by Greg Bennett of the Chickering Foundation, 2/2023)
Patents covering this instrument include: US Patent 175,336, March 28, 1876, concerning the plate and pinblock attachment; US Patent 197,270, March 20, 1877, concerning the pedal mechanism; and US Patent 247,887, October 4, 1881, concerning the floated soundboard and plate with isolated rim contact. The last patent was intended to enhance the tone and increase volume.
Compass: AAA-c5
Three pedals: una corda, bass dampers, dampers.
Chickering scale 95.
ProvenancePreviously owned by First Congregational Church, Ravenswood, Illinois, who donated the piano to Yankton College in 1969.
Published ReferencesLarson, André P. The National Music Museum: A Pictorial Souvenir (Vermillion: National Music Museum, 1988), p. 56.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number01214
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