Kimball is gone! Now what?

[Walter Sikora]

In the early eighties Kimball would bring groups of technicians to French
Lick and put them up in one of the resort hotels there for a week.  I
think they even provided meals.  Then their people (Roger Weisensteiner,
Ray Reuter and others) taught hands on seminars that would last from
about 7 AM til 8PM. It was pretty intense. Kind of like boot camp. Just
what a beginning technician like myself needed.  I'll bet this program
single handedly raised the level of piano service in many places around
the country.

Furthermore, having done work for a Kimball dealer for ten years when I
was in Bloomungton, IN, I have to say that I never saw any evidence of
shoddy work in their pianos, niether in design nor workmanship. When
there were problems Kimball's service manager, Judy Wikert, would honor
the warranty fairly and forthrightly.  She was a pleasure to deal with.

Kimball has a lot to be proud of.  I'm sad to see them go and I want to
publicly thank them for the training and support they have given.

Walter Sikora, RPT
Chapel Hill, NC

On Fri, 23 Feb 1996, Keith A. McGavern wrote:

> >You're right, Keith, it was a cheap shot. I just found Bobby's set-up too
> >good to resist. I am sure that there are many Kimball owners out there who
> >are satisfied with their instruments and many techs who enjoy tuning and
> >servicing them. I don't. Consequently I don't service any of them any more.
> >But that's just my personal opinion and I certainly didn't mean to offend
> >you!
> >
> >Les Smith
> >lessmith@buffnet.net
>
> While it appears that you are making some consolation for your remarks, I
> cannot let you go on your way believing that you have offended me
> personally by your comments about Kimball pianos.
>
> Let me make it clear that my regret for your comments is not only for the
> things mentioned in an earlier post, but also for the many friends and
> business associates at Kimball International who have unselfishly helped me
> and so many others throughout their years of service to the piano industry,
> knowing full well they would never come out and address your comments
> themselves.
>
> Keith McGavern, RPT
> kam544@ionet.net
> Oklahoma Baptist University
> Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
>
>
>