<HTML>Wim, I love this question. I don't think anyone can look into a crystal ball to speculate about 50 years in the future, but I will take a crack at 20. First, what is needed to enter into the piano manufacturing business? Wood can be imported, so can cast iron (complete plates, actually), actions can be designed and manufactured on an EOM basis, so the only thing left is labor - and lots of it. To make a name it helps to sell a bunch of pianos, and most companies that I can think of entered our market leaving something to be desired. The manufacturers that stayed straightened out their problems (for the most part :-) ) before people stopped buying them, some becoming darn good pianos, right? So the next emerging piano will come from a place where labor is cheap and offer a product that represents to the consumer a whole lot of piano for the buck. That can be almost anywhere - but in the next twenty years I predict Malaysia, Brazil, and India. My simple two cents. PS - Q: What is the difference between a terrorist and an economist?         A: You can negotiate with a terrorist. 'Nuf said. Richard Galassini Cunningham Piano Co & Factory Philadelphia, Pa. (800) 394-1117 <A HREF="http://voce88.tripod.com/richspianopage/">http://voce88.tripod.com/richspianopage/</A> </HTML>