Kimball is gone! Now what?

[Les Smith]

On Fri, 23 Feb 1996 bobelue@hiwaay.net wrote:

> >I got the phone call yesterday.
> >
> >I service a local Yamaha/Young Chang/Kimball dealer. With Kimball gone, he
> >wants to know what he's going to stock in that price range. I guess Jasper
> >is gone along with the big "K".
> >I'd appreciate your thoughts. I'll pass on ALL recommendations/condemnations
> >and hopefully get him a happy ending.
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >
> > Ron Nossaman
> >
> >
> >
> Ron...maybe a tongue-in-cheek reply, but do you suppose the Kimball name
> will stay around as have others, made in Asia perhaps, with the same price
> range, qualities as former Kimballs?  No response expected.
>
> Bobby
>

Actually, Bobby, they're already in production and coming out of mainland
China under the name of "Pear River". Any time now they're going to change
over to the name Kimball and no one will ever know that Kimball is gone.
In case you don't recognize the name "Pearl River", it's more commonly re-
ferred to by the name of a Chinese boat: junk. Kimball may be gone, but
it's reputation lives on. Why would any dealer want to stock a piano similar
in quality to a Kimball?

Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net