[pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs

Fri Dec 19 08:39:26 PST 2008

They might be around now, but not for long.  Its easy to see that they are going under...  They will be down to 14 employees after this last layoff.  I don't consider the pianos they make in China to be Baldwin.  Any of us could have the same pianos made by the same people with a stencil name of our choosing.  The Baldwin name means nothing anymore to most people.  Like I said its just another American name being put on a Chinese piano.  Gosh!  I just stopped and thought of all the old American names on Chinese made pianos, its pretty astounding isn't it?  One wonders how long the other 3 American piano manufactures will last.  S&S will probably last the longest, the others though?  As much as I like the Walter's product I have to wonder how they are doing.  My way of thinking on the Baldwin subject is with just 14 workers they might not be "dead" yet but they have a fatal illness.  It won't be long.  Time has ran/is running out.

Regards,
Shawn Brock, RPT
513-316-0563
www.shawnbrock.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul McCloud 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 11:05 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs

  Shawn:
      Maybe you know something about Baldwin that I don't.  They aren't dead- yet.  Far as I know they still own that Chinese factory, in addition to their factory in the US.  They aren't producing verticals in the US anymore, so they don't need those folks who were making them and let them go.  In the current market, we'll have to see how they survive.  Like 'em or not, they're still around
      Paul McCloud

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Shawn Brock 
    To: hpp at highpointpiano.com;pianotech at ptg.org
    Sent: 12/19/2008 7:33:42 AM 
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs

    Yep,

    that sounds like the Baldwin I know.  One of the lousy things about living in Cincinnati is we sure have a lot of Baldwin products left over from the days when they actually built pianos here.  One of my favorite customers is the granddaughter of DH Baldwin.  She has 2 7 foots in her living room.  Its fun to hear stories about the company from her.  She had told me once that she understood that things just don't last and she was proud of all the company did before being bought by Gibson.  Other than the American job loss it doesn't bother me in the slightest that Baldwin is going under yet again.  If all of Gibson went belly up it wouldn't matter to me.  I would sure feel bad for anyone who would be out of a job, but other than that its all okay.  Gibson thought they could both save the musical instrument market and control the world of instrument making.  The closing of Baldwin just shows they can't.  Gibson has tried to put almost every American maker of musical instruments out of business by suing on the grounds of trademark infringement.  I'm not just talking about the major companies like PRS and CF Martin, they have drug people into court who only make 12 to 15 instruments a year.  Knowing the small time makers could not fight them, they neither had the money or the power to put up a struggle.  I disliked the Gibson company so much that I turned down offers for 4 years for an endorsement.  I stuck with the custom builders and told them to "go to hell!"  Any how...

    Regards,
    Shawn Brock, RPT
    513-316-0563
    www.shawnbrock.com

      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Garret Traylor 
      To: pianotech at ptg.org 
      Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 6:34 AM
      Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs

      Hummmm, I would not hold my breath for Baldwin to stay in business.  A customer of mine has in the past provided Baldwin with legs and lid props but Baldwin is not paying their bill so they will not be getting the legs.  Does that sound like a company planning to stay in business?  BTW, I will offer details and pics in a few days if any of you are interested in purchasing them.

      Kindest Regards,

      Garret 

      ---

      Garret Traylor - President

      High Point Piano & Music Inc.

      88-PIANO (336) 887-4266

      P Go Green! Print this email only when necessary. Thank you for helping High Point Music be environmentally responsible.

      From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul McCloud
      Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 11:43 PM
      To: pianotech at ptg.org
      Subject: Re: [pianotech] Baldwin Layoffs

      Baldwin may have laid off some of their work force, but they're still in business.  They'll be at NAMM next month.

      Paul McCloud

      San D eggo
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