HOW OLD IS MY PIANO?
FREE PIANO IDENTIFICATION & SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL
What Year Was My Chickering & Sons Piano Made?
(Serial Number Lookup + Guide)
DIRECT ANSWER
Chickering & Sons pianos can usually be dated accurately from the serial number. On most vintage Chickering grands and uprights, the number is stamped on the cast-iron plate near the tuning pins. Check the plate carefully for worn or obscured digits before entering the number.
Chickering serial numbers are generally most consistent during the earlier independent-production years. Later instruments were produced within larger Aeolian manufacturing systems, so identifying the piano correctly and reading the complete serial number remains important.
CHICKERING SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL
PRODUCTION ERAS THAT AFFECT SERIAL ACCURACY
EARLY TO GOLDEN ERA (1820s – early 1900s)
- highly consistent serial sequencing
- strong documentation and historical records
- most accurate dating range
AEOLIAN PERIOD (early 1900s – mid-20th century)
- Chickering absorbed into larger manufacturing systems
- serial numbering remains usable but slightly less centralized
- some overlap with other Aeolian brands
LATE PRODUCTION
- reduced production volume
- occasional inconsistencies in numbering
- still generally traceable
WHERE IS THE SERIAL NUMBER ON A CHICKERING?
Chickering serial numbers are stamped into the cast iron plate (metal frame).
GRAND PIANOS
- open the lid
- look inside near the tuning pins
- the number is stamped directly into the plate
UPRIGHT PIANOS
- open the top lid or front panel
- look inside toward the metal frame
- locate the stamped serial number
Do Not Use These Numbers
Patent dates cast into the iron plate.
Decorative cabinet markings or case numbers.
Numbers from paperwork rather than the piano itself.
Partial, worn, or obscured digits that have not been checked directly on the plate or badge.
What a Chickering Serial Number Can Tell You
A Chickering serial number can usually establish the piano’s exact or near-exact manufacturing year and place it within a broad production era.
It cannot provide the exact day or month of production, full factory batch information, cabinet specifications, or later restoration history. The serial number tracks production order rather than complete instrument specifications.
Chickering & Sons Piano History
Chickering & Sons was founded in Boston in 1823 and became one of the most significant American piano manufacturers of the 19th century. The company was known for work in iron-frame construction, scale design, and durable piano building, earning international recognition alongside leading European makers.
In the early 20th century, Chickering became part of the Aeolian Company and production moved into larger corporate manufacturing systems. The brand’s identity gradually diminished through later consolidation, but Chickering pianos remain historically important and are generally well documented.
Reviewed by Joe Kemple, Master Piano Technician, Burd and Sons Piano Service · Updated September 2026
Our database includes Chickering serial numbers across all major production eras, allowing for precise year identification in most cases.
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