Kimball Company was sold in 1959 and became a part of The Jasper Corporation - a producer of wooden elements, mainly furniture. An attempt was still made to build the factory in the 1950s, but production costs exceeded the company's income. Kimball Company, but of almost all the manufactories did not allow for further development. After these events, the financial situation of not only the W.W.
The company continued to grow until the Great Depression and then World War II. Kimball has also expanded its activities to include the production of small and large-size pipe organs (their production took place over a period of about 50 years), as well as phonographs. Gradually, upright pianos were gaining in quality and popularity, becoming part of many American homes in the early 20th century. These were average instruments, so in order to improve their quality William hired technicians from renowned manufactures such as Steinway & Sons. The first Kimball factory started to build upright pianos five years later in a factory created especially for this purpose, in response to a growing market. The various components of these instruments were bought from outside companies and assembled in Kimball's own factory and then sold on an increasing scale. It is worth noting that in the first years he was only a dealer, he did not deal with instrument production.Īfter about 20 years, Kimball's company also produced reed organs and sold them with great success. Kimball Company in Chicago to sell leading piano brands ( Chickering & Sons, Hallet-Davis, Emerson etc.). When the market was under threat and the economic situation in America was uncertain, he decided to change his business and sell pianos. So, I don't know for your case, but that's what I know about Kimball pianos.William Walace Kimball was an American businessman who was involved in real estate brokerage. And I restate, it was appallingly loud, even for a pretty good-sized room, but you're going to get that anyway. So, the action was OK, and it made for good furniture, I guess, is my summary. The action was heavy, but I kind of like a heavier action, just for the tactile feedback. Probably just from years of experience playing on bad pianos. I guess it was a good piece of furniture, and I've visited back there a year or two ago and did a little session on it, just me alone doing some jazz stuff, and it still had those qualities, but I could get a bit of music out of it. She could tune it, of course, but that was her opinion as well. The best piano tech in town, she couldn't even do anything with it, and basically said forget about it, let me only play and work on the old honky-tonk upright on the other side of the room. I don't know if the pegs were all messed up from age, but it wouldn't hold a tuning. The voicing of the hammers was terrible, at least to my tastes, the sustain and una corda pedal mechanisms were not good. I don't remember the exact length, but you could call it a baby grand size. When I was a teenager and lived with my folks, we had a Kimball (I don't remember the year, but it was pretty old) supposedly from a deceased grand-aunt who was some kind of piano teacher out in the sticks. I can't say, obviously, without playing the instrument, but if it were me, I'd sell it and, if desired, basically swap it for as much Yamaha acoustic as you can get. I CAN supply pictures if necessary, but it might take a while as I am currently away from home.
#1946 kimball baby grand piano professional
If it is a decent instrument I would consider getting a professional to do repairs(if necessary). What I'm more concerned about is whether or not this piano is worth keeping as it takes up quite a lot of space. I've read a bit about the history of the company and mostly gotten that Kimball pianos are not necessarily known for their quality instruments, especially newer pianos.
#1946 kimball baby grand piano crack
There is some pretty considerable damage to the lid where years of sunlight has caused the finish to peel and crack on the lid and music rack. Mechanically, it seems to be fully functional with no dead keys or anything like that. Its a glossy white 5'8" Baby Grand that has a small plaque on the inside giving a little bit of the history of that event, ect. I was given one of the Kimballs used in the 1984 Olympic opening ceremony. First off, I already have this piano in my posession and have done a bit of research but was hoping someone with a lot more knowledge here could give me some advice being that I do not know much about pianos (not my primary instrument).