Hallet, Davis & Co. Maker?

[Richard Brekne]

Well, I gotta say Glenn ,,, you make your point very well... and I conceed it too
you, at least as far as the American market goes. Here in Scandinavia tho,
Steinway dealers dont really push Bostons, nor do the particularilly like New York
Steinways... predictable enough.. grin. So Steinway folks here dont hesitate to
tell Customers what the Boston is... they actually probably over do it on the
negative side.

Anyways... nice post... and I do indeed see your point.

Glenn Grafton wrote:

> >Glenn Grafton wrote:
> >
> >> The issue of the name on the fallboard is a larger issue than with just
> >> Hallet Davis. Most people are totally unaware of the fact that the Boston
> >> pianos marketed by Steinway are actually made by Kawai.
> >
> >It was my understanding that Steinway designed this piano from the bottom up,
> >and they do put their name on the inside stating so. I was also under the
> >impression that this was a well known fact. Dont really see the comparison to
> >stencile pianos and the arguments regarding misrepresentation.
>
> It's a well known fact among dealers and piano technicians, but it often
> times is not well known among piano buyers.
>
> The issue is possible misrepresentation of pianos, who's building them and
> where they're from. It is fairly common that many people considering a
> Boston piano are given the impression that they are a lower priced
> Steinway, built by Steinway. That's the way that they are often presented
> to the customer in some markets.
>
> While it's true that Boston Pianos differ from Kawai pianos it's also true
> that they are made by Kawai in the Kawai factory and differ greatly from a
> New York made Steinway-look at the rim, the legs, the lyre, etc. which are
> very similar to a Kawai.
>
> The further complication is Steinways introduction of the Essex series
> which are being made by Young Chang in Kawai. Obviously if you carry the
> logic further Steinway could come out with a Chinese made or a Russian made
> piano line that they would be marketing as well. The obvious issue is that
> Steinway sees the trademark Steinway as the valueable part of the equation,
> and any piano they apply it to.
>
> The difficulty arrises when people comparing a Yamaha, Kawai and Boston
> piano often times are unaware that all three are made in Japan. Another
> issue often is the fact that the Steinway dealers can command a
> significantly higher mark up on the Boston pianos because there often are
> no competing dealers in a market area. A Boston GP-163 costs a Steinway
> dealer only $95 more than the compareable Yamaha C1 in the same finish. In
> the market place though the Boston GP-163 often is sold for several
> thousand dollars more.
>
> One important aspect where piano techs. come in is to shed some light on
> what the low down is on a particular piano and to suggest other better
> values. If the smallest Boston grand sells for the same price as a Yamaha
> C2 (5'8") that is a difference they should take into account. The Steinway
> mystique often times clouds the reality that the Yamaha grands have some
> technical advantages over a similar size Bosotn.
>
> Glenn Grafton
> Grafton Piano & Organ Co.
> Souderton PA
> http://www.graftonpiano.com/
> glenn@graftonpiano.com
> 800-272-5980
>
> The box said "Requires Windows 95, or better." So I bought a Macintosh.

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway
mailto:Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no