Baldwin shut it's doors.

Say What?

double post - deleted.

The Trumann factory is shutting down, not all of Baldwin.

I think Gibson is making a big mistake. I just hope that they have the foresight to keep the factory in working condition until the economic situation changes so they can reopen when needed.

And then there were three.

What a shame.

This is very sad. I really love Baldwin artist grands. I always figured that if/when I upgraded to a bigger piano it would be a Baldwin. I guess that dream is now gone. I wonder if they will try to produce them in China, or if they are just gone away.

No financial bailouts for the piano industry, I reckon.

Dang.

Steven

Does this mean we will see Dong-baldwins? (Dongbei) Or is the grand production moving to Gibson's?

Very SAD INDEED!!! I agree that the Baldwin Artist grands are a pianos!


Terry C.

Meant to say that Baldwin Artist grands are great pianos! Sorry!


Terry C.

Dongwin? Baldbei? Hmm . . . you may be onto something there. Gibson Artist Grands produced in Nashville.

I recently visited a dealer who carried new Baldwins, he only sold a few in over a year.

The uprights were almost pathetic, the grands just soso.

Needless to say such meagre efforts are not enough in today's world of super competitive piano making.

Laugh all you want, but some of the better Chinese today would be sounding like Premium pianos besides some of the recent Baldwins I saw.

Feeling like the German soldier in the Normandy shouting "the Allies are coming" I was heavily ridiculed here only few years ago when pointing out the mass of new Chinese pianos coming onto market, many of which started to impress with a tone quality never seen [heard] before.

Instead of being accused of 'promoting Chinese pianos' - as I inevitably was quickly after - the smart ones in the industry should have recognized mine as well as those of many other industry professionals at least a bit of a warning that things were perhaps changing out there and to be on the look out for themselves.

I can only hope we'll do better with our own auto industry next...

Nostalgia and wishful thinking won't cut it any longer.

There will be more piano makers that will have to go - better brace yourself for some more unexpected moves and surprises in the near future.

Norbert

This is stunning...

Now Baldwin is not making pianos in the United States?

So at what year of manufacturing of Baldwin did they turn from great or good pianos to poor pianos? I only ask because a used 6' baldwin is in the mix of pianos that I'm considering for a Christmas present for my wife. I'm also looking at used Knabe's and Yamaha's as well.

I am very sad. Both as a former employee and as a dealer.

Ric Overton

What Norbert said is the first I've heard of any descent into "poor" or "pathetic" territory, and he doesn't make clear just what the problems were, i.e., whether they were built badly or just poorly prepped.
Ric, do you have any further information about what happens to the Artist Grands now?

Unfortunately, that article in the Trumann newspaper is the only mention I could find so far in the media when I googled this sad announcement.

Steven

I was at a local Baldwin dealer here in Las Vegas this afternoon. That is were I heard about it. Steinway and Yamaha are their main lines however.

Pretty remarkable that in a country of 300 million a company making pianos with less than 100 employees and a brand as valuable as Baldwin can't sell enough to pay the rent. Even if the economy's bad you'd think they could sell the required few hundred pianos per year nationwide. Plenty of European companies manage to do it, as someone said over in another thread.

It makes me sad too. I always thought I'd get a Baldwin grand someday. With also the news from the auto industry I have the feeling we Americans just don't have things together these days.

Will Gibson honor warranties on the new pianos that dealers will sell off now?

Continuing parts availability?

Maybe there are some deals to be had?

If they could ever get back on their feet, is there any possible way they could bring back the Hamilton models/designs from the 1950s to early 1960s? Those have been some of the best verticals under 48" I have played. I don't care nearly so much for the newer ones, though, especially mid 1980s forward.

I have a 6000 (big vertical) from the early 90's that I think is a wonderful instrument. I'm selling it to a (lucky) friend as I take delivery of my rebuilt Baldwin C. I also think their smaller 243's are excellent.

The grands will still be around for rebuilding. I've seen at least three different rebuilders selling them, so don't dash those dreams yet. (Charles, Dennis!)

Norbert: vague negative comments like yours didn't help either. Yes, it's been hard to find nice Baldwin's on showroom floors lately. Put your brands back in your sig.

I knew it was over when I saw the stupid paint jobs...

I have to agree, when I saw some of the crazy cabinets they were coming out with I figured they were grasping at straws.

I worked for a dealer selling Baldwin pianos in the early 80s. They were in Avon CT (high-rent district).
Sold a lot of pianos because they were the "accent" needed for the room (usually chosen by the decorator).
Mostly the R.

We also kept the local concert piano for artist playing in the Hartford area.
They were still highly regarded pianos back then.

Hate to see them stop completely, then we lose another vernerable old brand.

OH NO!!!!
Balwin was on my top three list for acoustic pianos.

Well I guess that narrows the choices down...

sadness

I agree with a suggestion made by Noctugranes. Norbert: I very much enjoy your posts, but you should put your brands back in your signature line. I looked up your site, and you sell some wonderful brands, but it would be helpful to have this information included up front. The fact that you sell competing brands is useful information. It does not, of course, necessarily undercut the accuracy of what you say, but it is information worth having when weighing competing views. By the way, I believe that all dealers should include this information in their signature lines, for the same reason.

I am also sad about Baldwin. I hope that the glorious American piano tradition can continue in the few wonderful brands still being made and sold, and that there are no nasty surprises ahead as we all try to weather this economic catastrophe.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Baldwins. Taught at the local studios (Boston north) for about 15 yrs. Had about 40 students so got to play a lot of Baldwins. Same era Frank!

North Shore studio carried the concert grand (for concerts) so loved playing it when time allowed. I rushed to it after a Chuck Mangione concert (to play where his fingers touched!!!) Told the owners not to wipe down the keys and 'others' might get a thrill too!

(Dont' laugh - I've come a long way since then!!!)



Sad to hear of this plant closing.

i love SF10s....they are such fine pianos.. i hope they maintain a market presence somehow.

A very sad day for the piano industry indeed. My aunt had a Baldwin grand that I loved to play as a kid-- I'd visit her house to play the "real" piano (we had a spinet at home) and it was there I first got a sense of how really "grand" a piano could be.

We can only hope the remaining American piano makers continue and weather this economic crisis. For those around here who seem to look for every opportunity to pull down Steinway-- be careful what you wish for.

Sophia

As to the future, I see nothing that says Baldwin is gone, just that they are ceasing production in the US.

If this is so, warranties would still be honored.

There are a lot of speculations out there. I can assure you that Baldwin is not gone forever, but, a bit of changes are sorely needed. I still believe in Baldwin and know that we will work through this.

Thanks

Ric Overton