Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
W . W . Kimball Co. Uses Novel Method
of Introducing New Line of Pianos
The year 1954 will be a memorable
one for the dealers of the Kimball Com-
pany in Chicago, which in three years
will be celebrating its 100th anniver-
sary.
This is the year, however, when Kim-
ball introduced an entirely new piano
with several constructional improve-
THE NEW KIMBALL BACK WITH
ROUND POSTS.
ments, including more powerful plates,
balanced keys,'friction release precision
actions, more powerful hammers, auto-
matically wound strings, longer bass
strings, soundboards with greater freed
(vibrating) areas, new projection of
tone, new ease of playing, new protec-
tive finishes and more carefully matched
and beautiful veneers as well as heavier
and easy rolling casters with cases in
new woods, rare and colorful.
The instruments also have an entirely
new styling.
Entitled "The Birth of a New Era for
the W. W. Kimball Co. and the Entire
Piano Industry," the new models were
introduced individually. The first one
was the Kimballette, regarding which a
special advanced notice was sent out
showing how this instrument is entirely
new with new principles in design
which have been approved by Charles
Frederick Stein, technical consultant to
the piano industry, Torbin F. Yates, a
graduate of the School of Engineering,
University of Illinois, and the design-
ing was done by Oscar Steinhauser, a
graduate of the Grossherzoglich Ger-
werbe Schule, Eisenach, Thuringen,
Germany.
Attached to the announcement was
an engineer's official report written by
Chief Engineer Yales.
In this report, it is revealed that the
Kimballette has been created in new
fabrication designs, only 38 inches high
on full casters. It is a full 88-note in-
strument with a direct-blow action. "The
functional design is contemporary,
and the simple flowing lines belie the
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1954
modest price-tag. The finish, colors,
veneers and cabinets are all true to the
tradition of the long life construction."
It is explained that vertical ribs elim-
inate a back liner and reduce strain,
and more soundboard surface is left to
vibrate. "The Kimballette has the ver-
tical ribs that nestle between round back
posts designed so that they eliminate
the back liner to bring the string load
of 20 tons right up to the back posts."
It is explained that the dowel design of
the Kimballette back does not rely on
glue for strength, although all the round
posts are soundly glued. A laminated
soundboard is used as well as a full-
sized plate and scale.
Attached to the announcement also is
the following quotation: "The princi-
ple of vertical ribs is not new to the
industry and has proven successful
whenever properly engineered, accord-
ing to Mr. Charles Frederick Stein, the
famous piano manufacturer and con-
sultant to Pratt, Head & Co.
Announcement No. 2 was regarding
the Kimball Console Modernaire. Style
74, height 38 inches, and produced in
wrought iron legs and music rack, in
limed oak.
Announcement No. 3 advised the
dealers regarding Colonial modern,
Style 71. which was produced in ma-
hogany, walnut, Karina blonde, and
Salem maple. A 38-inch scale with
many additional features and finished
in the new Johnson's "rubbed in" wax.
Regarding the latter, the company
states, "We will produce all rubbed fin-
ishes with the new rubbing fluid which
culminate in the most beautiful lasting
finish ever before offered.'
Another unique feature was the an-
nouncement that the new tag salesman
to tell about Kimball's wax finish would
be on all pianos which bear the name
of Kimball.
Another novel feature in the con-
struction of these new pianos is colored
sharps to match the body of the piano,
maroon with mahogany and other colors
providing the piano with any color that
might be desired by a purchaser.
It was regarding this line that the
sales staff, as well as Kimball dealers
who visited the Convention, were ad-
vised al the Kimball headquarters, Kim-
ball Hall. Chicago, during Convention
week.
Photos of the new Kimball Models
are reproduced on Pages 18 and 19.
BELLY WITH A KELLY
WE DON'T WANT TO BE ANATOMICAL
"THE HARP
OF THE PIANO"
KELLY PLATES
WITH
HAVE
BUT
YOUR PIANOS WONT
" H A R P " TROUBLE. PUNNY—ISN'T IT?
BUT REALLY — BUY KELLY
"THE PIANO PLATE OF PERFECTION"
THE O. S.
SPRINGFIELD
COMPANY
OHIO