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 very accurately by serial number, especially for instruments produced before the mid-20th century.

Chickering maintained one of the more consistent serial numbering systems among American piano manufacturers, particularly during its independent production years.

Accuracy depends on:

production era (pre- vs post-Aeolian acquisition)
continuity of factory records
condition and readability of the serial number

In most cases, a Chickering serial number maps closely to a specific year.

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

HOW TO FIND YOUR CHICKERING SERIAL NUMBER

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

Important identification note:

the serial number is always stamped into the metal plate
do not use patent dates or decorative case numbers

WHAT YEAR IS MY CHICKERING PIANO? (WHAT TO EXPECT)

After entering your serial number, you can typically determine:

exact or near-exact manufacturing year
production era classification
position within Chickering’s historical output

The serial number will NOT provide:

exact production date (day/month)
detailed factory batch data
full specification breakdown

Chickering serials track production order, not full instrument metadata.

CHICKERING SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP TOOL

Use the tool below to estimate your piano’s manufacturing year.

STEP 1: SELECT THE MANUFACTURER

Manufacturer

STEP 2: ENTER YOUR SERIAL NUMBER

Serial Number

STEP 3: THE RESULT

COMMON CHICKERING SERIAL NUMBER MISTAKES

Common issues include:

confusing patent dates with serial numbers
reading worn or partially obscured digits incorrectly
using numbers from paperwork instead of the plate
misidentifying decorative cabinet markings as serials

If your result seems incorrect, verify the number directly on the cast iron plate.

CHICKERING & SONS PIANO HISTORY

Chickering & Sons is one of the most historically significant American piano manufacturers, founded in 1823 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Key historical contributions include:

early innovations in iron frame construction
advancements in scale design and durability
strong reputation for concert-quality instruments in the 19th century

Chickering was one of the first American piano makers to achieve international recognition, competing directly with European manufacturers.

Later developments:

became part of the Aeolian Company in the early 20th century
production shifted within larger corporate manufacturing systems
brand identity gradually diminished as consolidation increased

Despite this, Chickering pianos remain:

historically important
relatively well-documented
among the more reliably dated American instruments

Chickering