Chronologically Arranged

  • 1796 Jonas Chickering born Mason Village. New Hampshire.
  • 1817 He repaired the piano formerly the property of the Princess Amelia. 181 8 He went to Boston and apprenticed himself to John Osborne. Piano maker.
  • 1822 Concluded his apprenticeship with John Osborne.
  • 18 23 Associated himself with James Stewart and established the House of Chickering under the name of’, Stewart and Chickering.
  • 1823 First Chickering piano completed and sold.
  • 1828 James Stewart returned to Europe leaving Jonas Chickering in sole possession of the business.
  • 1830 First Chickering upright completed.
  • 183 5 Jonas Chickering took as partner John Mackay and the firm became known as "Chickering & Mackay."
  • 1837 Invented the full iron plate or frame for grand pianos.
  • 1841 John Mackay lost on voyage to South America.
  • 1842 Purchased from the Mackay family the interests of John Mackay leaving Jonas Chickering again in sole possession of the business, the firm at this time being styled "1. Chickering, Piano Maker."
  • 1843 Important invention concerning a new deflection of the strings.
  • 1845 The first practical method of over-stringing for grand and square pianos.
  • 1848 Jonas Chickering takes his sons into partnership and the firm becomes known as "Chickering & Sons."
  • 1849 The method of over-stringing applied to upright pianos.
  • 1852 The Chickering factory at 334- Washington Street. Boston. Destroyed by fire December 1st.
  • 1853 Cornerstone of the present factory on Tremont Street. Boston. Laid June 15.
  • 185 3 Jonas Chickering died suddenly on December 8.
  • 1855 Completion of the present factory on Tremont Street, Boston.
  • 1867 Chickering pianos awarded the first gold medal at the International Exhibition at Paris and C. Frank Chickering awarded the Imperial Cross of the Legion of Honor.
  • 187 I Thomas E. Chickering, eldest son of Jonas Chickering, died February 14.

 

  • 1871-1891 During this period a great number of improvements and inventions were consummated by Mr. C. Francis Chickering. It was the period of the greatest development in piano construction throughout the world, during this time all piano makers following the Chickering leadership developed the piano from the foundation laid by Jonas Chickering with his invention of the full iron plate patented in 1837.
  • 1891 C. Francis Chickering, second son of Jonas Chickering, died March 23.
  • J 893 George H. Chickering, now sole proprietor of the business, associates with himself businessmen and scientific experts in continuing it.
  • 1899 George H. Chickering died November 17.
  • 1904- Perfection of the Quarter Grand, the smallest grand piano of modern construction yet made.
  • 1909 The House of Chickering & Sons affiliates itself with the American
  • Piano Company, thus securing opportunity for wider musical and artistic scope at the same time preserving all the individual characteristics and management of the Chickering organization.
  • 19 10 A player piano mechanism was for the first time installed in a
  • Chickering piano.
  • 1911 This year marks the first installation of the Ampico in a Chickering piano.
  • 1913 Important improvements in the construction of upright pianos in- creasing the volume and enriching the quality of tone of these instruments.
  • 1914- Reconstruction of a large part of the Chickering factory, including the installation of the latest type of machinery.
  • 1916-17 Further reconstruction of the factory completing its equipment
  • With modern machinery of all kinds.
  • 1919 This year marks signal improvements in the construction of grand pianos in producing a series of new scales superseding in beauty of tone the grands of previous years, especially a concert grand of superb tonal power and variety of tonal color.