Presto
Issue: 1925 2010 - Page 6
January 31, 1925.
PRESTO
TRANSFER OF
CHICKERING BROS.
Official Announcement Made January 20 of
Purchase of the Acoustigrande Name,
Scales and Good Will by American
Piano Company, New York.
INTERESTING HISTORY
C. C. Chickering, Becoming Vice-President of
Chickering & Sons, Will Return to Early
Scenes of Activity.
While the intended transfer of the business of
Chickering Brothers, Chicago, to the American Piano
Company, New York, has been generally known in
the trade for some time past, it was only on January
20 the actual purchase by the American Piano Com-
pany was made. This sale includes the trade name
"Acoustigrande," good will, scales, patterns—in fact,
everything pertaining to the Chickering Brothers
business except accounts receivable and real estate
holdings.
C. C. Chickering, sole survivor of the brothers com-
prising Chickering Brothers, who received his train-
ing while a young man in the old Boston factory of
Chickering & Sons, now returns to that company as
vice-president. Mr. Chickering was the dominant fac-
tor in establishing and developing the business of
Chickering Brothers and the Acoustigrande piano. An
important feature of this transfer is the assuming by
the American Piano Company of all printed and
signed warranties accompanying Acoustigrande
pianos.
C. C. Chickering Speaks.
In an announcement of its retirement from the
piano manufacturing business Chickering Brothers
wish to "express our deep appreciation for the enthu-
siastic support of our many personal friends and
patrons," and adds:
"Mr. Chickering feels that in going back to these
early associations he is, in a way, returning to his
alma mater, and is gratified to be again affiliated with
the distinguished house of Chickering & Sons."
Interesting History.
In the transfer of the business of Chickering
Brothers to the American Piano Co., an interesting
incident concerning the destiny of C. C. Chickering
and his brother Fred is disclosed. They were pledged
to the piano industry as far back as 1876, long before
they were of an age to pick a career. While on a
fishing trip in that year with George and Frank
Chickering, the father of the Chickering boys ar-
ranged to furnish a couple of sons to learn the piano
business in the Chickering & Sons factory when they
had acquired a proper education.
The arrangement was carried out when C. C.
Chickering entered "the Chickering & Sons factory
in 1881, to be followed by Fred about a year later.
Both were put at the bench at the start, and under
experienced mechanics taught the use of tools. From
a beginning in the case-making department they went
through the various departments, learning sound-
board construction, action finishing on squares, up-
rights and grands in turn and so on to the regulation
of grands and uprights. This was followed by a
couple of years of work as tuners. The apprentice-
ship period of the brothers consumed close to eight
years.
Sees His Opportunity.
Then came the period in which C. C. Chickering
had an opportunity to develop the genius that later
gained him an enviable reputation as a designer of
pianos of highly artistic merit. Completing his work
in the factory in Boston he went to New York, and
for an interesting, enjoyable and valuable time was
taken into Frank Chickering's scale drafting room
and taught scale drawing according to that expert's
ideas. Mr. Chickering recalls with pride that he was
Frank Chickering's only pupil.
Start in Chicago.
Mr. Chickering came to Chicago in 1890 to do
some repair work for the business then known as
the Chickering-Chase Brothers Company, and the in-
cident was a decisive factor in his career. After the
death of Frank Chickering, the brothers, C. C. and
Fred Chickering, joined forces in Chicago and com-
menced the manufacture of pianos of vertical and
horizontal construction which in time attained high
distinction in the American piano industry. Their
lives were devoted to working out the secrets of tone
production in the art of piano manufacture. The
C. C. CHICKERING.
Acoustigrande is the admirable result of their indus-
try and genius. The dominating characteristic of the
instrument is its tone.
In the fall of 1920 Fred Chickering died and in 1923'
Wallace Chickering, who had joined the company in
1907, died after a short illness. In 1923 the company
received notice from the city that the site of the fine
factory on South Park avenue had been condemned
for street widening. The incidents combined had a
determining influence on Mr. Chickering's decision
subsequently when the proposal to affiliate with
Chickering & Sons was made.
H. C. DICKINSON TO START ON
JOURNEY TO FAR COUNTRIES
friends can believe that he will not have at least a
part of an eye open to export possibilities and the
world trade in pianos generally.
H. C. Dickinson will sail from New York Febru-
ary 7 on the S.S. Conte Roso, for the lands bordering
on the Mediterranean. He will be accompanied by
his wife and the first point of destination will be
Algiers, in Northern Africa, where an extensive
motor tour has been planned.
A large motor coach operated by the French will
be used with an accompanying guide and will traverse
the mountains and plains of the Northern African
province. The first night a camp will be pitched in
the Algerian mountains and the following night on
the Northern African desert. Accommodations fur-
nished by the French are above the ordinary for a
trip of this nature, said Mr. Dickinson, this week.
A moving picture camera will be taken on the trip
and many unusual landscapes will be photographed.
The mountains of Algiers are noted for their wonder-
ful scenery.
Vice-President of the Baldwin Piano Co. Has
Planned to Make Long Voyage.
Mention has already been made of the proposed
trip of H. C. Dickinson, vice-president of the Bald-
win Piano Co. Chicago headquarters. He expects to
visit the cities of Europe and later to invade Algeria
and others of the African states. Mr. Dickinson is a
trained traveler and must go pretty far to find any-
thing wholly new to him. His present trip will, he
believes, accomplish this end.
As one of the hardest workers among the piano
men of Chicago, Mr. Dickinson seems to have earned
a long rest. He expects to make the trip one of
recreation and sight-seeing, although few of his
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
PRESTO
TRANSFER OF
CHICKERING BROS.
Official Announcement Made January 20 of
Purchase of the Acoustigrande Name,
Scales and Good Will by American
Piano Company, New York.
INTERESTING HISTORY
C. C. Chickering, Becoming Vice-President of
Chickering & Sons, Will Return to Early
Scenes of Activity.
While the intended transfer of the business of
Chickering Brothers, Chicago, to the American Piano
Company, New York, has been generally known in
the trade for some time past, it was only on January
20 the actual purchase by the American Piano Com-
pany was made. This sale includes the trade name
"Acoustigrande," good will, scales, patterns—in fact,
everything pertaining to the Chickering Brothers
business except accounts receivable and real estate
holdings.
C. C. Chickering, sole survivor of the brothers com-
prising Chickering Brothers, who received his train-
ing while a young man in the old Boston factory of
Chickering & Sons, now returns to that company as
vice-president. Mr. Chickering was the dominant fac-
tor in establishing and developing the business of
Chickering Brothers and the Acoustigrande piano. An
important feature of this transfer is the assuming by
the American Piano Company of all printed and
signed warranties accompanying Acoustigrande
pianos.
C. C. Chickering Speaks.
In an announcement of its retirement from the
piano manufacturing business Chickering Brothers
wish to "express our deep appreciation for the enthu-
siastic support of our many personal friends and
patrons," and adds:
"Mr. Chickering feels that in going back to these
early associations he is, in a way, returning to his
alma mater, and is gratified to be again affiliated with
the distinguished house of Chickering & Sons."
Interesting History.
In the transfer of the business of Chickering
Brothers to the American Piano Co., an interesting
incident concerning the destiny of C. C. Chickering
and his brother Fred is disclosed. They were pledged
to the piano industry as far back as 1876, long before
they were of an age to pick a career. While on a
fishing trip in that year with George and Frank
Chickering, the father of the Chickering boys ar-
ranged to furnish a couple of sons to learn the piano
business in the Chickering & Sons factory when they
had acquired a proper education.
The arrangement was carried out when C. C.
Chickering entered "the Chickering & Sons factory
in 1881, to be followed by Fred about a year later.
Both were put at the bench at the start, and under
experienced mechanics taught the use of tools. From
a beginning in the case-making department they went
through the various departments, learning sound-
board construction, action finishing on squares, up-
rights and grands in turn and so on to the regulation
of grands and uprights. This was followed by a
couple of years of work as tuners. The apprentice-
ship period of the brothers consumed close to eight
years.
Sees His Opportunity.
Then came the period in which C. C. Chickering
had an opportunity to develop the genius that later
gained him an enviable reputation as a designer of
pianos of highly artistic merit. Completing his work
in the factory in Boston he went to New York, and
for an interesting, enjoyable and valuable time was
taken into Frank Chickering's scale drafting room
and taught scale drawing according to that expert's
ideas. Mr. Chickering recalls with pride that he was
Frank Chickering's only pupil.
Start in Chicago.
Mr. Chickering came to Chicago in 1890 to do
some repair work for the business then known as
the Chickering-Chase Brothers Company, and the in-
cident was a decisive factor in his career. After the
death of Frank Chickering, the brothers, C. C. and
Fred Chickering, joined forces in Chicago and com-
menced the manufacture of pianos of vertical and
horizontal construction which in time attained high
distinction in the American piano industry. Their
lives were devoted to working out the secrets of tone
production in the art of piano manufacture. The
C. C. CHICKERING.
Acoustigrande is the admirable result of their indus-
try and genius. The dominating characteristic of the
instrument is its tone.
In the fall of 1920 Fred Chickering died and in 1923'
Wallace Chickering, who had joined the company in
1907, died after a short illness. In 1923 the company
received notice from the city that the site of the fine
factory on South Park avenue had been condemned
for street widening. The incidents combined had a
determining influence on Mr. Chickering's decision
subsequently when the proposal to affiliate with
Chickering & Sons was made.
H. C. DICKINSON TO START ON
JOURNEY TO FAR COUNTRIES
friends can believe that he will not have at least a
part of an eye open to export possibilities and the
world trade in pianos generally.
H. C. Dickinson will sail from New York Febru-
ary 7 on the S.S. Conte Roso, for the lands bordering
on the Mediterranean. He will be accompanied by
his wife and the first point of destination will be
Algiers, in Northern Africa, where an extensive
motor tour has been planned.
A large motor coach operated by the French will
be used with an accompanying guide and will traverse
the mountains and plains of the Northern African
province. The first night a camp will be pitched in
the Algerian mountains and the following night on
the Northern African desert. Accommodations fur-
nished by the French are above the ordinary for a
trip of this nature, said Mr. Dickinson, this week.
A moving picture camera will be taken on the trip
and many unusual landscapes will be photographed.
The mountains of Algiers are noted for their wonder-
ful scenery.
Vice-President of the Baldwin Piano Co. Has
Planned to Make Long Voyage.
Mention has already been made of the proposed
trip of H. C. Dickinson, vice-president of the Bald-
win Piano Co. Chicago headquarters. He expects to
visit the cities of Europe and later to invade Algeria
and others of the African states. Mr. Dickinson is a
trained traveler and must go pretty far to find any-
thing wholly new to him. His present trip will, he
believes, accomplish this end.
As one of the hardest workers among the piano
men of Chicago, Mr. Dickinson seems to have earned
a long rest. He expects to make the trip one of
recreation and sight-seeing, although few of his
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).