Manuel is a passionate, driven, and techsavvy AV technician, 
I have worked on many Chickering and Sons pianos over the years. Like many older, authentic piano brands that I’ve encountered, some were in poor condition, while others were better maintained and produced a beautiful tone. Chickerings often have a full tone in the bass register, but they are somewhat less powerful in the tenor and treble compared to other brands, such as Mason & Hamlin or Steinway. These pianos can be suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players.
One noticeable difference between Chickerings and Steinway or Mason & Hamlin pianos is the cast iron plate and rim, which are somewhat lighter in design. A lighter tone or structure doesn’t imply that Chickerings were inferior; they were simply designed and constructed with a different purpose. The late 19th century was the Golden Age of the Music Industry Marketing and Music: Any Song Can Become Famous? - Today let's dive into a topic that's been buzzing around a lot: the relationship between marketing and music. We all know that marketing plays a massive role in the music industry, but does it actually hold the power to make any track a hit? Or does talent still stand a chance? First off, let's address… in the United States. During the 1890s, the music business was among the top industries in America, comprising at least 200-300 piano manufacturers, over 100 reed organ companies, several hundred musical instrument manufacturers (including brass instruments), and printed music publishing companies.
The piano industry, due to its size, held national significance. For example, President Grover Cleveland was the featured speaker at the opening ceremony for the Chickering Piano Company Factory in Boston in 1887. The factory spanned over 200,000 square feet and was called a “marvel” by the President. Other piano manufacturers of that era included Knabe Pianoforte Company, Hazelton Piano, Steck Piano, Decker Brothers Piano Company, Mehlin Piano, Behr Brothers Piano, Strauch, Haines, Schuber, Victor Fletcher Piano, and more. Among this group, Steinway and Kimball piano companies were the only two manufacturers to survive until today.
One of the key developments that allowed companies like Chickering Piano Company to thrive during the late 19th century were production improvements introduced earlier in the century. The machine tool made it possible to accurately grind and shape metal components, leading to interchangeable production parts, which all piano companies adopted by the 1880s. The assembly line came next, and by then, widespread production and output became standard, along with lower costs. In 1885, a mid-range upright piano cost under $500. By the mid-1890s, the price had dropped by half.
Among all piano companies, Chickering & Sons was most closely linked to the founders of the piano industry in the U.S. The Chickering family business began with Jonas Chickering, who apprenticed with early piano manufacturer John Osborn until 1823. He then started building his own pianos and partnered with John MacKay. MacKay was more of a businessman than a piano builder-craftsman and successfully marketed Chickering pianos until the early 1840s.
Chickering had three sons who he trained in the business and craft of piano building. Jonas partnered with his sons, Frank, George, and Thomas, in 1852, and they renamed their company Chickering and Sons Piano Company. Jonas Chickering improved upon and patented the design of the Full Iron Plate in 1837. His eldest son, Thomas Chickering, helped lead the company until his death in 1871. Frank Chickering supported his father at the 1851 World’s Fair in London B52 - Wade Crawley is back with a great B52 concert review! If you remember, Wade wrote for us Punk music in the late seventies. Now read his new exclusive article for ManuelMarino.com! The B52’s, London Roundhouse It was on a hot and very sweaty summer night in London’s trendy Camden and a packed audience of all… . He recognized New York City’s importance as a center of commerce and arts and opened facilities there, as well as building and opening “Chickering Hall.” Chickering pianos often received top honors at exhibitions.
George, the youngest brother, managed the Chickering Factory until his passing at the end of the century. Chickering Piano Company was one of the primary competitors of the Steinway Piano Company. By 1895, Steinway had successfully overshadowed Chickering in sales and reputation. Eventually, Chickering and Sons was acquired by the American Piano Company. A significant number of Chickering and Sons pianos remain in people’s homes across the U.S. to this day, particularly in the northeast.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
