http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bu...rts/8333215.stm
Operations are to be transferred to Asia. According to the article, Kemble are the last large scale manufacturer of pianos in the UK. Pretty sad for the staff. Also wonder whether this means pianos will become more expensive in the UK if they are all imported?
Full Version: Kemble Pianos
QUOTE(davidmackay @ Oct 30 2009, 01:38 PM) 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bu...rts/8333215.stm
Operations are to be transferred to Asia. According to the article, Kemble are the last large scale manufacturer of pianos in the UK. Pretty sad for the staff. Also wonder whether this means pianos will become more expensive in the UK if they are all imported?
Just saw this on the news
Are there any piano manfacturers left in the UK at all now, even small-scale firms? I know there's a couple of places which make early keyboard instruments, including a place not far from me, but I don't know about pianos...
QUOTE(davidmackay @ Oct 30 2009, 03:38 PM)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bu...rts/8333215.stm
Operations are to be transferred to Asia. According to the article, Kemble are the last large scale manufacturer of pianos in the UK. Pretty sad for the staff. Also wonder whether this means pianos will become more expensive in the UK if they are all imported?
No. They will probably become cheaper.
Trouble is if ALL UK jobs are exported then no-one will have any money to buy anything.
QUOTE(Mad Tom @ Oct 30 2009, 02:48 PM)
No. They will probably become cheaper.
Why?
The large manufacturers know the price points that the UK market will take. If you want to continue to sell into the UK, you know have the added cost of transport and exchange rate risk. Whilst there will no doubt be wage bill savings, they will obviously not be passed on to the customer.
There are some UK manufacturers mentioned on this site http://www.friendsofsquarepianos.co.uk/ (found because of the thread on square pianos).
QUOTE(Crotchetymum @ Oct 31 2009, 07:16 AM)
There are some UK manufacturers mentioned on this site http://www.friendsofsquarepianos.co.uk/ (found because of the thread on square pianos).
Oh good
- at least there are still a few manufacturers around. Long may they continue!
Just to play devil's advocate here, do we know what the demand in the UK for new pianos is? Clearly an upright piano in the parlour is no longer the compulsory piece of furniture it was in the early part of the 20th century, and electronic keyboards offer more advantages in terms of space etc.
So why are we surprised (and saddened) when piano makers close?
So why are we surprised (and saddened) when piano makers close?
QUOTE(stetenorve @ Nov 1 2009, 10:41 AM)
Just to play devil's advocate here, do we know what the demand in the UK for new pianos is? Clearly an upright piano in the parlour is no longer the compulsory piece of furniture it was in the early part of the 20th century, and electronic keyboards offer more advantages in terms of space etc.
So why are we surprised (and saddened) when piano makers close?
I'm not sure anyone is surprised. But I think one is allowed to be saddened at job losses. However, in general, globalisation is a good thing, bringing the most efficient allocation of resources and allowing countries to focus on their comparative advantage.
Sorry - your undergraduate degree never leaves you.
QUOTE(davidmackay @ Nov 1 2009, 09:56 PM)
I'm not sure anyone is surprised. But I think one is allowed to be saddened at job losses. However, in general, globalisation is a good thing, bringing the most efficient allocation of resources and allowing countries to focus on their comparative advantage.
Sorry - your undergraduate degree never leaves you.
From my travels, I've been swung towards the thought that globalisation can be a horrific thing. Touching down on a nice island in SE Asia then spotting a McDonalds kind of ruins the experience.
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