pianotech-digest V2000 #164

[JStan40@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 02/13/2000 11:22:25 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-pianotech-digest@ptg.org writes:

<< Hi Stan,
             What a lot of tech's seem to forget is that the US, at the turn
 of the century, was undoubtedly both the manufacturing and innovative power
 house in piano technology.
  It took the Europeans some time to wake up to a changing industry. Social
 factors also play a part with regards to size and cosmetics. 
 Materials like Rosewood, imported from the colonies, was actually cheaper
 and more readily available than American Walnut, hence the frequent use of
 this material.
 Free trade was non existent, and the sun had not set on the British Empire.
 The Countries mentioned probably have more turn of the century Canadian
 pianos than American, and lots of British Birdcages.
 Canadian Companies like Heinzman were significant exporters at that time.
 Just some random thoughts.
 Roger
 
 
 At 07:53 PM 12/02/00 -0500, you wrote:
 >No information to impart, but just wondering--our Oz and Kiwi friends 
appear 
 >to have more--er--experience with birdcages than in the States.  Given that 
 >these were probably not state-of-the art when built, but might have served
 as 
 >instruments for the "hunting lodge," or some such out-of-the way second or 
 >third home, then it would be reasonable to assume that at the time it would 
 >be more economically feasible to ship them long distances with other 
 >household effects than to ship a reasonably sized grand or vertical.  That 
 >they seem to have travelled also to South Africa and Scandinavian countries 
 >as well, would seem to speak to the same reality.  Do you think that
 explains 
 >why there are relatively few of them in the US?  100+ years ago there was 
 >certainly a thriving piano industry in this country, making it less than 
 >necessary to import affordable instruments.  (Regrettably, times have 
 >changed!)
 >
 >Stan Ryberg
 >Barrington IL >>

Thanks so much, Roger.  That squares exactly with what I had been thinking.  
Glad for the additional information.

Stan Ryberg
Barrington IL