Chickering Grand

[Kenneth Jankura]

My first or second attempt at rebuilding was a Chickering Quarter  
grand from that era (before 1910).
Shortly afterward, I remember Wally Brooks saying in a rebuilding  
class, something like, "I hope one of your first rebuilding jobs  
isn't a Chickering Quarter grand, those things are awful to figure out."
It had a one-piece block (yippee), but the block was stepped (boo),  
against the flange. Why, I'll never know.
I made a template and used a router at the depth of the step after  
the block was cut and somewhat fit, and it turned out to be at least  
twice as much or more work, but doable.
Oh, and the block was bolted from underneath, allow for more time.
The flanges were all brass. APSCO, at the time, had new brass wip  
flanges for sale, so that was easy. Not anymore.
I think I used S&S shanks and flanges, I still have the set of flanges.
But I had to reuse the hammer flanges, oh well. The drop screws were  
kinda loose in the flange, and I think I used gasket cement on the  
screw to keep it from rotating with time and vibration (they were  
longer than normal drop screws if I remember correctly, so  
irreplaceable).
The board had only 4 or 5 ribs. I Spurlock-style shimmed it.
The hammers were attached at the rail at an odd angle in the bass and  
tenor sections to accomodate for the narrow case, consequently much  
'head scratchin' was  necessary to figure hammer bore and tail  
shaping and so forth (compound angles, yikes!).  (Way back, when I  
was doing construction work, a mentor once said "A certain amount of  
standin' and lookin' goes with a job like this." I've adopted it as  
my life motto.)
This piano at least had normal dampers. Many from that era did not.
The action was difficult to regulate (memory oh memory where have you  
gone!) for rep lever spring tension and hammer clearance.
 From what I have heard, every year through that period, Jonas  
Chickering came up with a better mouse trap, so you never know what  
wonderful surprises await you.
Just be forewarned, even if not properly forearmed.
I hope this helps.
By the way, I tune this piano once a year or so and still absolutely  
adore it.
I sold it too cheaply for what it sounds like.
I didn't particularly like it when I was finished, until I heard the  
customer play it while I sat 15 feet away on the couch.
I almost wept with the beauty of the sound.
And it is one of the sleekest, sexiest pianos ever.
Aw, maybe I just get too close to my work....

Ken Jankura RPT
Newville PA



On Feb 15, 2007, at 8:03 AM, Farrell wrote:

> I service an old Chickering quarter grand with brass flanges.
>
> Just curious, how does one do a soundboard evaluation from long  
> distance? Or are you assuming (and logically I might add) that the  
> original board is shot?
>
> Terry Farrell
> ----- Original Message -----
> The Quarter grands I've seen have three or so sections of pinblock  
> machine screwed
> to the underside of the plate.  I have not seen any brass flanges  
> on a grand like there
> are on some old Chickering uprights.
>
> Albert.
>
>
>
> On 2/14/07, Hank Lea <colopiano at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear fellow tech's,
>    I am biding a rebuilding job on a 1906 Chickering quarter grand  
> from
> out of state. My question is to all, does this model have the brass
> whippen flanges and the brass hammer shank flanges?  Also, does this
> model have a sectioned pinblock?  Since I can't look at the piano, I
> thought maybe someone might have some info on this model. If there is
> anything else that might be unusual about this model, please speak  
> up. I
> have worked on these before, but it's been a long time. Thanks!
>
> Hank
>
>
>