W. W. Kimball & Company
Established 1857. An old and distinguished house of international standing and reputation. Since its inception, the firm has been under the continuous ownership and control of the Kimball family. One of the world's quality manufacturers of pianos, grand pianos, consoles, consolettes, spinets and studio models.
The Kimball plant, occupies approximately 200,000 square feet of floor space. The building is equipped with modern machinery and appliances for an ideal mixture of fine craftsmanship and modern methods. In the manufacture of these instruments the best and most reliable materials are used and an exceptionally high class of labor is employed. Completion of the plant in May, 1956, revealed completely new dry kiln and lumber handling equipment, extensive conveyor systems, and the air-conditioned office facilities. The program included acquisition of the newest modern machinery, including many special machines developed by Kimball engineers and employees.
The Kimball line of grands includes several sizes Vertical type pianos included a special school and studio model. Artist Console, Consolete, and Spinet models were available in a wide range of modern and period designs. The Kimball Consolette has four exclusive Tone-Touch features: The Kimball Pipe-Organ Tone Chamber, produced through the combined skill of the Company's pipe organ and piano technicians; the Kimball Unilocked Scale; the Kimball patented Direct Blow Action; and the new Kimball Life-crowned Tone board, which will not split or crack open and permanently holds the crown developed through years of research and experiment. The Kimball technical staff draws all scales, designs' actions and cases and various other parts; thus insuring the precision and uniforra quality that are so important to the performance of a fine piano. The company even operates a completely equipped machine shop where have been built many ingenious special machines found only in this plant.
The Kimball instruments have won recognition at many of the world's expositions, among these the Chicago Columbian Exposition, 1893, gave the Kimball Co. "an award of superlative merit" for having attained the highest standard of excellence in its particular manufacture. The international Jury of Awards of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition at Seattle, 1909, conferred the highest award upon Kimball grands and uprights and pipe organs, stating, "Their upright and grand pianos typify the highest perfection in tone, scale, action and design, in American piano making." At the Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, Nebr., in 1898, Kimball pianos received the diploma and only gold medal awarded any piano. Highest awards from the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco were announced in the summer of 1916, Grand piano medal. Hundreds of world famous musicians and singers have used Kimball pianos, 100th in public and for their private use, and have given them unqualified endorsements. The Kimball is heard on the concert stage today as it has been continuously for over half a century. Several thousand churches, schools, colleges and public institutions have purchased Kimball pianos. Among the colleges, universities and conservatories which have purchased Kimball pianos: Cosmopolitan School of Music, American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Barry College, Miami, Fla., Birmingham Conservatory of Music, Ward Belmont College, Detroit Conservatory of Music, U. S. Military Academy (West Point), Stephens College, Christian College, Oregon State College, Universities of Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Delaware, Southern California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Washington. Public schools in Chicago, Illinois; Seattle, Washington; Cleveland, Ohio; Providence, R. I.; St. Paul, Minnesota; Kansas City, Missouri; Washington, D. C.; Los Angeles, California; West Palm Beach, Florida; Wilmington, Delaware; Youngstown, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; and over a thousand other schools. Several thousand Kimball pianos are used in churches and in associated schools. A large number of radio stations, hotels and other public institutions have also purchased and are using Kimball pianos.
Kimball was the first to perfect a laminated spruce sounding board ... one of the most important piano improvements in generations . . . as described above; first to develop electronic gluing, which permits using waterproof glues in piano case construction; first to pioneer lacquer to supplant varnish, producing a perfect finish, a better product . . . for less money; first to perfect a keybed leveling device which eliminates wedges and shims, produces a perfect key level; first to pioneer the type of white and black keys now used by the entire industry; first to make a piano in genuine fruitwood; first to design authentic French Provincial and Early American pianos; first to develop a grand scale for a 5' size grand piano.
The Kimball plant, occupies approximately 200,000 square feet of floor space. The building is equipped with modern machinery and appliances for an ideal mixture of fine craftsmanship and modern methods. In the manufacture of these instruments the best and most reliable materials are used and an exceptionally high class of labor is employed. Completion of the plant in May, 1956, revealed completely new dry kiln and lumber handling equipment, extensive conveyor systems, and the air-conditioned office facilities. The program included acquisition of the newest modern machinery, including many special machines developed by Kimball engineers and employees.
The Kimball line of grands includes several sizes Vertical type pianos included a special school and studio model. Artist Console, Consolete, and Spinet models were available in a wide range of modern and period designs. The Kimball Consolette has four exclusive Tone-Touch features: The Kimball Pipe-Organ Tone Chamber, produced through the combined skill of the Company's pipe organ and piano technicians; the Kimball Unilocked Scale; the Kimball patented Direct Blow Action; and the new Kimball Life-crowned Tone board, which will not split or crack open and permanently holds the crown developed through years of research and experiment. The Kimball technical staff draws all scales, designs' actions and cases and various other parts; thus insuring the precision and uniforra quality that are so important to the performance of a fine piano. The company even operates a completely equipped machine shop where have been built many ingenious special machines found only in this plant.
The Kimball instruments have won recognition at many of the world's expositions, among these the Chicago Columbian Exposition, 1893, gave the Kimball Co. "an award of superlative merit" for having attained the highest standard of excellence in its particular manufacture. The international Jury of Awards of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition at Seattle, 1909, conferred the highest award upon Kimball grands and uprights and pipe organs, stating, "Their upright and grand pianos typify the highest perfection in tone, scale, action and design, in American piano making." At the Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, Nebr., in 1898, Kimball pianos received the diploma and only gold medal awarded any piano. Highest awards from the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco were announced in the summer of 1916, Grand piano medal. Hundreds of world famous musicians and singers have used Kimball pianos, 100th in public and for their private use, and have given them unqualified endorsements. The Kimball is heard on the concert stage today as it has been continuously for over half a century. Several thousand churches, schools, colleges and public institutions have purchased Kimball pianos. Among the colleges, universities and conservatories which have purchased Kimball pianos: Cosmopolitan School of Music, American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Barry College, Miami, Fla., Birmingham Conservatory of Music, Ward Belmont College, Detroit Conservatory of Music, U. S. Military Academy (West Point), Stephens College, Christian College, Oregon State College, Universities of Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Delaware, Southern California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Washington. Public schools in Chicago, Illinois; Seattle, Washington; Cleveland, Ohio; Providence, R. I.; St. Paul, Minnesota; Kansas City, Missouri; Washington, D. C.; Los Angeles, California; West Palm Beach, Florida; Wilmington, Delaware; Youngstown, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; and over a thousand other schools. Several thousand Kimball pianos are used in churches and in associated schools. A large number of radio stations, hotels and other public institutions have also purchased and are using Kimball pianos.
Kimball was the first to perfect a laminated spruce sounding board ... one of the most important piano improvements in generations . . . as described above; first to develop electronic gluing, which permits using waterproof glues in piano case construction; first to pioneer lacquer to supplant varnish, producing a perfect finish, a better product . . . for less money; first to perfect a keybed leveling device which eliminates wedges and shims, produces a perfect key level; first to pioneer the type of white and black keys now used by the entire industry; first to make a piano in genuine fruitwood; first to design authentic French Provincial and Early American pianos; first to develop a grand scale for a 5' size grand piano.
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