Jim, Dr. H, etc. It wasn't all that long ago that you had to submit yourself for laboratory analysis to get a Kimball decal from the Mother Company. It seems they were concerned that you would sully the name (sorry, Name) by placing it on a lesser instrument in order to artificially elevate the status of said lesser instrument. They seem to have nearly universally averted this potential tragedy, so it was apparently time and attitude well spent. The Steinway of fifty years ago, twenty years ago, fifteen years ago, ten years ago, five years ago, and today, are so different that it hardly seems worth the angst. Then again, the possibility of having their pianos either improved, or degraded (relative to whatever relative level of relative quality and performance capabilities they happened to be producing at the time the piano in question was built) could have some bearing on how the work in question represents the quality (relative, average, specific, or general) of the piano (generally, specifically, or individually perceived) in question, is most certainly a matter of concern, for the most part. With all due consideration for the parties in question, if not attendance, it is my most careful and studied opinion that all concerned should just loosen their underwear a notch or two, buy one another a libation of choice and forget the whole thing. "Stupid is as stupid does" --- Forest Gump --- Ron N
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