Greetings, All! Joseph Hale (ever own a "Hale" tuning hammer?) is sometimes referred to as the "Father" of the commercial piano. He was the original out-sourcer and his one over-riding goal was to build his pianos as cheaply as pos- sible. His concern was not quality. It was cost. Pure and simple. He succeeded admirably. His instruments were inexpensive, cheaply-made, bot- tom-of-the-barrel PSO's from start to finish. As might be expected, he sold all of these he could make--and made a bundle on money in the pro- cess--due to an innovative marketing approach called "The Stencil System". His pianos were made without a name on the fallboard or plate. Later, when a customer would buy the piano, he could have any name he wanted, put on the fallboard. While there were certainly a large number of Stineways, Chickrings, Knabees and the like sold, the system, of course, invited even greater abuse. In the best American tradition, however, the ethical concerns didn't bother Joe at all, he just kept raking in the bucks and eventually became a very wealthy man. I can't help but comment what a big laugh Joe would be having--if he if he were still alive today-- when he saw new Young-Chang pianos being sold with the name "Knabe" on their fallboards. While the old American firms like Chickering, Knabe, George Steck and Weber are long gone, the notorious "stencil system" which they universally decried is alive and well. Joe wouldda loved it! Les Smith lessmith@buffnet.net
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