The Baldwin Piano Company is an American piano brand. In 2008, Baldwin moved all production of pianos to factories in China (owned Subsequently production of upright pianos was moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Greenwood. ideas of acoustical science and piano making; its manufacture is However, the "roaring twenties" ended even earlier for Baldwin and its keyboard industry competitors than they did for the rest of the country. and the clear bell-like quality in the high treble end. Laura Saunders of Forbes called it "a classic corporate disaster," and Fortune's Steven Flax agreed, saying it was an "amazing, appalling story." Traditional manual multiple keyboard organs were sinking even faster: unit sales peaked in 1974 at 234,000, and were down to 50,000 by 1986. A time-tested, traditional design contributes to the responsive character of the soundboard, providing outstanding tonal quality. manufactured pianos with the DH Baldwin name in the 1980s, as pianos The company originally began as a retail enterprise, who sold Steinway and Chickering pianos. It even started making pianos under contract with Yamaha in 1986. While the merger with third-ranking Wurlitzer was not without pitfalls, it did help to increase Baldwin's leading share of U.S. keyboard sales from 19 percent in 1986 to more than 26 percent by 1991. U.S. acoustic piano sales peaked in 1978 at 282,000 new units, according to the American Music Conference, a Chicago-based trade group. The company changed its name to Baldwin-United in 1977 after a merger with United Corp.[10] In 1980, the company opened a new piano manufacturing facility in Trumann, Arkansas. launched a Decker Brothers piano dealership. It ceased most domestic production in December 2008, moving its total production to China. Marian McPartland's long-running radio show Piano Jazz was hosted by Baldwin. Baldwin pianos soon captured the attention of well-known artists around the world, beginning with turn-of-the-century stars like Marcella Sernbrich and Vladimir de Pachmann and including Leonard Bernstein, Liberace, Aaron Copland, Andr Previn, Dave Brubeck, Lawrence Welk, Zubin Mehta, Carly Simon, and Bruce Hornsby, among many others. market, the Chinese domestic market, and other By 1982, keyboard instruments constituted a mere three percent of Baldwin-United's $3.6 billion revenues. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? This One of the most famous piano brands in the world, Baldwin pianos are known for their quality and sound. In the midst of these challenges, Baldwin Piano & Organ's sales slid from $116 million in 1981 to $90 million by 1985. eBay item number: 314177424557. It was once the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments and known by the slogan, "America's Favorite Piano". Baldwin grand pianos feature a two-piece, continuously bent rim design, constructed of the finest hard maple. Around the decade of the 1990s, the company was sold and relocated to This enhances both the structural attributes of the piano and its sound characteristics, helping to produce full, rich tone. Baldwin used several strategies to combat foreign competition. all price ranges and aspects of the piano market. The showroom carried Chickering, Steinway, Decker Brothers, and Vose pianos as well as Estey Reed organs. In 18891890, Baldwin vowed to build "the best piano that could be built"[6] and subsequently formed two production companies: Hamilton Organ, which built reed organs, and the Baldwin Piano Company, which made pianos. international piano markets. Throughout the 1970s, the company undertook a significant bid to diversify into financial services. (Note The Baldwin Piano Company conducted business at this location until 1955). However, the company's president, Lucien Wulsin II, had created a large reserve fund for such situations, and Baldwin was able to ride out the market downturn. At the same time, they initiated cost-reduction efforts, moving the corporate headquarters to Loveland, Ohio, for example. [15][17] Throughout the 1990s, the company's fortunes improved, and by 1998, the company's 270 employees at its Conway, Arkansas facility were building 2,200 grand pianos a year. Consisting of more than 7,500 parts, the Grand action features the exceptionally responsive touch that professional players prefer. Excludes: The serial number may be to the right or the left, or in the middle. Nearly 500,000 Hamilton studio pianos have been sold since its introduction in 1939, and Baldwin pianos are found in schools, churches, and performing venues across the United States. Baldwin's prominence in the industry continued until 2001, when they declared bankruptcy and were purchased by Gibson Guitars. BP&O's sales rebounded in the late 1980s, rising from less than $100 million mid-decade to a high of $135 million in 1988. Competition on several fronts further complicated these fundamental difficulties. Fans of Baldwin pianos love the big American sound of the instruments, particularly in the bass area, Baldwin Piano Company was the largest U.S. -based manufacturer of keyboard instruments, most notably pianos. Rent A Piano Shop Pianos PIANO SERVICES Our complete line of piano services that our Portland piano store offers include: tuning, repair and restoration, purchase or consign, rentals, moving, and storage. Baldwin pianos are manufactured in China. Baldwin strings, made by Roslau, provide consistently rich and detailed fundamental tones and harmonic overtones. Click on the HTML link code below. But bad management in the 1980s led to one of the largest bankruptcies in American history. It was once the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments and known by the slogan, "America's Favorite Piano". precision engineered, which gives each instrument the highest degree of As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. Baldwin factories were used to manufacture plywood airplane components for various aircraft such as the Aeronca PT-23 trainer and the stillborn Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan cargo aircraft. [23] Baldwin was second only to Steinway in its artist and symphony roster. By 1871, D. H. Baldwin is listed in his own building at 142 W 4 th Street, Cincinnati. The fire destroyed four seven-story wooden buildings . learn how over 7,000 companies got started! We see them around but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Ben Folds and Miley Cyrus. Baldwin quickly became one of the largest piano . The company started in a small shop on Fourth Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. Item location: Columbia, Pennsylvania, United States. This is a partial list of piano manufacturers. eventually became partners in the venture, at the time named D.H. Baldwin & Company. The company was founded by Dwight Hamilton Baldwin in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862. Leaders of this foreign assault included Yamaha, Kawai, and Samick. The firm is first listed at 138th Street & Walton Avenue, New York City. (By the end of the year, he would be acting as treasurer for American Laundry Machinery, a Cincinnati-based manufacturer of laundry and dry cleaning equipment.) In 1959, Baldwin began making in-home organs with the "Howard" name. any doubt and dispute, from the nine-foot concert grand to the five The 1927 introduction of the radio decimated player piano sales, sending many keyboard manufacturers into bankruptcy. Serial numbers are for the first piano made in year shown Since most pianos are bought for elementary school children, the effect of that should have been obvious." The company stands on a good solid reputation for beautiful and reliable pianos and organs. best-playing pianos anywhere. At one time, Baldwin Piano Company was the largest manufacturer and seller of pianos in the United States. by Gibson Guitars, Nashville, TN). Under the leadership of Morley P. Thompson, Baldwin bought dozens of firms and by the early 1980s owned over 200 savings and loan institutions, insurance companies and investment firms, including MGIC Investment Corporation. These experiments stopped in 1941, when Baldwin's facilities were enlisted to help the war effort by manufacturing wooden aircraft wings. Baldwin Grand Piano, which was designed, manufactured and guaranteed by Most piano professionals have access to detailed information about these brands using a Piano Atlas to reference serial numbers, which are used to determine a piano's age using the year a piano was built. North American Music, Inc. 11 Holt Drive Stony Point, New York 10980 845-429-0106 For parts and warranty information on older pianos: Baldwin Piano Company 309 Plus Park Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37217 615-871-4500 870-483-6111 (parts) 800-444-2766 (Baldwin 24/7 consumer hotline) www.baldwinpiano.com In 1898, the Baldwin Piano Company was incorporated and the supply factories became a part of Baldwin's new company, the D. H. Baldwin Company. He was a music teacher and church organist who saw a need for a quality American-made piano. Although BP&O's annual sales and earnings had not fully recovered from their late 1980s gusto by the end of 1995, CEO Hendricks expressed her confidence that the company was "Poised For Progress" in 1996 and beyond. But it doesnt stop there. Baldwin Pianos. Having graduated from the Harvard Business School in 1950, Thompson had started out as a door-to-door piano salesman. London, 1914.The Baldwin piano is recognized as a universal favorite between the leading operatic artists and virtuosos of the pianoforte. This information is often used in piano appraisals. That July, insurance commissioners from Arkansas and Indiana seized control of Baldwin-United's six insurance companies, effectively freezing the vast majority of the company's assets. The firm was incorporated in 1910 by T. Linton Floyd-Jones, the grandson of W. P. Haines. Saunders noted the "diminished cultural cachet of playing the piano," and it was undeniable that other, largely more passive forms of entertainment like radio, television, computers, video games, and VCRs had whittled away at leisure time previously devoted to piano playing. Robert S. "Dick" Harrison, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, replaced Thompson on an interim basis. The handmade Artist Grands, built at the Trumann Factory in the U.S.A., are among the finest anywhere, at any price. In order to utilize excess production capacity, BP&O reapplied its electronic, woodworking, and technological know-how to related businesses. The Great Depression followed fast on the heels of this industry-specific downturn, sealing the fate of many of those piano companies that had not already succumbed. A subsidiary of Gibson Brands, Inc.,[3] current pianos only display the "Baldwin" name and brand with all of the formerly American made upright models being made in Baldwin's Chinese factory.[4][5]. Management also hoped to more fully develop the company's OEM electronics division. In 1866, Lucien Wulsin from Louisiana joined D.H. Baldwin, who was a music teacher at the time, and began helping him sell Decker Brothers' pianos in . This Baldwin SF10 is a beautiful piece, and I (Aaron, the owner of the store) have quite the history with it at this point. For the most part, Baldwin carried on the strategies formulated in the late 1980s through the early 1990s. Sharp keys have a refined radius for superb feel. From Business: Shaeffer Piano Service provides tuning on all makes and models of pianos. This page is devoted to the Baldwin Piano Company currently part of the Gibson Family of brands. Chickering names in 1988, but in 2008, both names ceased production. Used pianos are also available on the U.S. market in particular for those on a smaller budget . This strategy not only clarified brand strategies, but also yielded manufacturing, distribution, and back office efficiencies. It was once the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments and known by the slogan, "America's Favorite Piano". excellence. General detail view from the Baldwin Custom Flame Piano Inspired and autographed by Jerry lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" at the media preview for. It was once the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments and known by the slogan, "America's Favorite Piano". Baldwin began manufacturing its own line of pianos in 1890 when it lost the Steinway franchise. The partners shipped their first self-made piano in 1891, and two years later formed the Ellington Piano Company. The company's first piano, an upright, began selling in 1891. 2575 Urban St. Lakewood, CO 80215. Baldwin's most popular financial product was the single-premium deferred annuity (SPDA), a life insurance policy that amassed interest tax-free until withdrawals began. Often confused with R.S. 1899 Baldwin passed away and by 1900 Lucien Wulsin and George Armstrong took control over the company (with Wulsin at the helm). By that time, the second Lucien Wulsin had been superseded as CEO by his son (also Lucien), who led Baldwin from 1964 until 1980, overseeing the most infamous period in the venerable company's history. A subsidiary of the Gibson Guitar Company, current pianos only display . Each piano that carries the name Baldwin, is a piece of that legacy which has contributed to American piano history and manufacturing.Company HistoryThe company was founded by Dwight Hamilton Baldwin in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862. A company history published in the June 1987 edition of Music Trades Magazine noted Baldwin's particular knack for hiring quality employees. Baldwin-United took out nearly $600 million in short-term loans from eight banks to help pay the $1.2 billion price tag. We do not stock parts for Baldwin organs or digital pianos. To ensure integrity, each part of this grand is carefully chosen for its uniformity and performance. The Remarkable Career of Winston E. Kock, Electronic Organ Designer and NASA Chief of Electronics", Baldwin Piano & Organ Company History fundinguniverse.com, "Trumann Piano Plant Lays Off Workers While Undergoing Restructuring", Baldwin, A Casualty Of Fast Expansion, Files For Bankruptcy, "COMPANY NEWS; Wurlitzer Sale To Baldwin", "Marian McPartland's Storied Life, Told 'In Good Time', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baldwin_Piano_Company&oldid=1095491762, Piano manufacturing companies of the United States, Manufacturing companies established in 1857, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 June 2022, at 17:33. Support our site at no cost to you. Many distinguished musicians have chosen to compose, perform and record using Baldwin pianos, including the pianists Walter Gieseking, Claudio Arrau, Mike Shinoda, Jorge Bolet, Morton Estrin, Margaret Baxtresser (ne Barthel), Earl Wild and Jos Iturbi and the composers Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, Igor Stravinsky, Bla Bartk, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Lukas Foss, Andr Previn, and John Williams. The Accu-just hitchpins and Synchro-tone bass strings used The Gretsch guitar operation was sold back to the Gretsch family in 1989. A grand piano naturally becomes the focal point of any room, and you'll want to fill it with the finest piano built. A subsidiary of Gibson Brands, Inc., Read More Any Baldwin made piano is worth the time, money and energy Hallet, Davis and Co HS160 5'3" Elite Grand Piano (High Polish Dark Walnut) Sign . the Baldwin Company in Loveland, Ohio, is exclusively enjoyed by top However, in 2001, Baldwin was again facing difficulties, and filed for bankruptcy once again, when the company was bought by Gibson Guitar Corporation. to rebuild or refurbish. In 2006/2007, Gibson purchased the Dongbei Piano Group, the third biggest Chinese piano maker in the world. What size is a Baldwin M piano? It was once the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments and known by the slogan, "America's Favorite Piano". (503)-775-2480 malia@portlandpianocompany.com. Each key is crafted of solid Alaskan Sitka spruce with ebony wood sharp keys, and individually weighted for the most responsive action possible. [11], The company, now a subsidiary of Gibson Guitar Corporation, has manufactured instruments under the Baldwin, Chickering, Wurlitzer, Hamilton, and Howard names. [1] By 1960, many of the grand pianos were made by Kawai and later Samick. 1873 lucien wulsin, a bookeeper with the company since 1866, enters into a partnership with dwight baldwin 1891 designed by baldwin piano The worth of this piano is $1,550.00 when it is tuned to its peak performance level. Looking for the Current Market Value of your Baldwin Piano?Are you Buying or Selling a piano and need to know what it is worth? Last updated on Oct 27, 2022 12:33:07 PDT View all revisions View all revisions. (303) 426-3003. The models became unpopular by the end of the 1920s, which, coupled with the beginning of the Great Depression, could have spelled disaster for Baldwin. your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. Allegro: Diversification into Financial Services Begins in Late 1960s, Given Baldwin's decades of experience financing pianos, the company's late 1960s diversification into other financial services seemed quite logical. In 1866, he hired Lucien Wulsin as a clerk, and the two eventually became partners in the venture, at the time named D.H. Baldwin & Company. They have been around since 1862 and were at one point the largest piano manufacturer in North America. Baldwin Piano & Organ Company is a West Virginia Foreign Profit Corporation filed On March 16, 1984. The following brands have been in use or are in development by Gibson, since 2003: A.B. La marca de guitarras Gibson se declara en bancarrota, "Baldwin ceases production, lays off workers", "Music Engineers. Browse our available selection, or use our filters to refine your search by size, price, location, distance from you, or color. document.write('
'); The following brands have been in use or are in development by Gibson, since 2003: A.B. Samick (Korea) The Baldwin BP211 is the best in its class. Hoping to become an itinerant minister, this pious Presbyterian took courses at Ohio's Oberlin College. In October 1986, they sold 19.4 percent of the company, about 1.2 million shares, to generate about $9 million in debt reduction funds. . Massachusetts Exclusive Baldwin Piano Dealer. The Baldwin Piano Company has a long history of creating high quality upright pianos that sound great and last forever. Wulsin ultimately purchased Baldwin's estate and continued the company's shift from retail to manufacturing. Net income more than doubled during the period, to over $7.1 million in 1987. From concert stages to recording studios to family music rooms, Baldwin Professional Series pianos continue to set the industry standard for innovative design, classic styling and outstanding performance at an unbeatable price. Nevertheless, Baldwin has managed to eke out admirable returns; sales rose from $110.1 million in 1992 to $122.6 million in 1995, and net income slid from a high of $5.9 million in 1992 to just $345,000 in 1994, rebounding to just under $4 million in 1995. Baldwin pianos are famous for their touch, tone, and durability. Who is Baldwin Piano. The three traditional pedalssoft, sustain and sostenutoare constructed of solid brass, and the fallboard utilizes a slow-close mechanism for a smooth, sure motion when in use. Decrescendo: Baldwin-United Files for Bankruptcy in Early 1980s. Despite this relatively small cash contribution, Harrison retained about 25 percent of the privately-held company, and Smith kept a 23 percent stake. [5] As of October 2018 the factory in Trumann, AR has been closed and remaining inventory disposed of.[20]. 6 talking about this. By alternating the grain direction of each ply, tuning pins are snugly held. The story of the Baldwin Piano Company, a fixture in this community for 140 years, usually starts with the anecdote that Mr. Baldwin was a music teacher, one of the first in Cincinnati Public Schools. Who owns Baldwin piano? The company traces its origins back to 1857, when Dwight Hamilton Baldwin began teaching piano, organ, and violin in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, Baldwin has become the only American piano company to make and distribute quality pianos to all price ranges and aspects of the piano market. c. 1891 Baldwin built factory and manufacturered first Baldwin vertical piano, with designer John Warren Macy; it also became their headquarters. Baldwin grand pianos are being built to Baldwin specification by Parsons Music, China. Baldwin Piano & Organ Center the Midwest's Premier Showroom since 1937. The "scholarly" Armstrong led Baldwin for about 14 years, guiding a period when player pianos fueled rapid growth. The company responded by acquiring Wurlitzer to increase market share and by moving manufacturing overseas to reduce production costs. At nearly 50 tall this piano has longer strings than many grand pianos. No matter which Baldwin you choose, youll own an instrument that is preferred by many of todays finest pianists, composers, conductors, studios, symphony orchestras and performance venues.
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