Chickering Quarter Grand

[Bdshull@AOL.COM]

Pat, Jack:

Just finished a Starr quarter grand copy a few months ago, and had a chance 
to compare it to a client's Chickering quarter grand.  They are very similar, 
with high tension scales and similar appearance.  But the Starr I rebuilt did 
not have the wound tenor strings that the Chickering did, and the Chickering 
was far superior in sound in the tenor, a pretty good break, I thought.  The 
Chickering was shorter (5'2") than the Starr (5'4") but accommodated string 
lengths more efficiently, I thought.   

The Starr pinblock had a flange all the way around, which had to be fitted;  
it was screwed to the plate from the bottom.  The weakness in design is the 
extreme closeness of the tuning pins to this unusual flange.  The cabinet on 
the Starr was quite remarkable.  Good sound for size of piano, after 
rescaling the tenor.

Bill Shull, RPT

In a message dated 5/10/01 7:58:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
JWyatt1492@AOL.COM writes:

<< Hello Pat.
 
    There are  TWO  "Quarter Grand" Chickering.
 One is a 5'' 8'' with very thin cheek blocks.
 this is the  "121" scale "Quarter Grand".
 it has  9 single bass strings and 10 double unison
 bass strings. Also has 6 triple unisons of  wound 
 strings in center section.  The 121 is a very 
 unforgiving piano and very unpredictable.
    As a note of interest, the "Starr" Piano Co. built 
 an exact copy of  the "121".  It was not a good 
 piano either    
     The "135"  scale "Quarter Grand" is a  5"3'  this 
 is a good quality and very forgiving piano.
  
   Regards,  >>