[CAUT] Rebuilds.

[Richard Brekne]

Just in over the buzz beam...if its true then it looks like you guys may 
be getting your big break.  

1. Renner Germany is down to 2 days a week production
2. Seiler after being taken over by Samick will most likely not survive.
3. Schimmel is on the brink.
4. Petrof has started to manufacture furniture to keep its workers busy.
5. Steinberg is operating at a loss they figure is less expensive then 
not working a full week.
6. Steinway and Sons is cutting production and the NY factory is at 3 
weeks out of a month.

Much of this because of the spreading ripple effect of the deepening 
financial crisis.  If worse comes to worst... we may be in for a major 
shake-up in the not to distant future. Seems to me this will last for 
only a limited period of time before some new piano god takes over and 
the status quo restored to its normality. As Ed pointed out... and I 
agree with.  People will be people (to paraphrase). Pianists seem to 
need that crutch the aura of mystic splendor however false the reigning 
equivilant of Steinway gives them.

In anycase... if S&S does end up biting the dust along with some of 
these others... the door is wide open for those with the resources to go 
through and exploit the situation.

I wonder how easy it will be tho to produce some of the high end custom 
stuff we hear talk about on a level beyond a few pianos each year ?  
Running a small shop is one thing... pumping out enough pianos to 
compete in the larger market place is another. It will be for sure and 
interesting ride.

Cheers
RicB