Who Is Baldwin Piano? New Information And Some Old.

Who Is Baldwin Piano?

I frequently come across this question. Who is Baldwin Piano? Nowadays, Baldwin isn’t as widely known as it used to be. The past of Baldwin is filled with a wealth of pioneering design methods and brilliant marketing minds.  Who is Baldwin Piano? I plan to cover this topic in multiple blog posts and assist those who are unaware of Baldwin’s significance in comprehending why it remains a competitive choice among pianos in its price range.

Baldwin Piano Company is a well-known piano brand originating from the United States. It used to be the leading manufacturer of keyboard instruments in the country and was recognized for its slogan, “America’s Favorite Piano”. As of 2001, it became a subsidiary of Gibson Brands, Inc. In December 2008, Baldwin halted its production in the United States and shifted its piano manufacturing operations to their wholly owned manufacturing facility called Baldwin China.

The Beginnings

Let me share the inspiring story of how this extraordinary company came into existence. It all began way back in 1857, when a brilliant guy named Dwight Hamilton Baldwin embarked on a journey of spreading the joy of music. He started off by teaching piano, organ, and violin in the vibrant city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hiring Lucien Wulsin

As his talent and passion for music grew, so did his ambitions. In 1862, Mr. Baldwin established a dealership for a renowned piano brand called Decker Brothers. In 1866 when he hired an exceptional talent named Lucien Wulsin as a clerk. Little did they know that this pivotal moment would mark the birth of a legendary partnership. Who is Baldwin Piano?

By 1873, and Wulsin had become more than just a clerk. He had become a trusted partner in what was known as D.H. Baldwin & Company. Guided by Wulsin’s unwavering dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, the company flourished and eventually gained an unparalleled reputation.

By the 1890s, the Baldwin Company had triumphantly emerged as the largest piano dealer in the entire Midwestern United States. This phenomenal growth was a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence and their ability to bring the beauty of music into countless homes and hearts.

The Most Exceptional Piano Ever Known

During 1889-1890, Baldwin made a promise to create the most exceptional piano ever known and went on to establish two manufacturing companies. The first one, Hamilton Organ, specialized in crafting reed organs, while the other, the Baldwin Piano Company, focused on producing exquisite pianos. In the year 1891, they successfully launched their very first upright piano, captivating music enthusiasts.

Not stopping there, Baldwin unveiled their first grand piano, which left a lasting impression in 1895. This is the beginning of the story to answer the question Who is Baldwin Piano.

Dwight Hamilton Baldwin Passes and Changes Were Made

In 1899, Dwight Baldwin passed away, leaving the majority of his estate to support missionary causes. Eventually, Wulsin acquired Baldwin’s estate and continued the company’s transition from retail to manufacturing. The company achieved a remarkable feat in 1900, as their model 112 piano won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

This marked a historic moment, as it was the first time an American-made piano received such an honor. Baldwin pianos continued to excel, earning top awards at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the 1914 Anglo-American Exposition. By 1913, the business had experienced remarkable growth, expanding to thirty-two countries worldwide and establishing retailers across the United States. Who is Baldwin Piano?

Baldwin, like many other manufacturers, commenced crafting player pianos during the 1920s. They built a piano manufacturing facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Towards the end of the 1920s, player piano models went out of favor, and combined with the onset of the Great Depression, this could have potentially brought catastrophe upon Baldwin.

Nevertheless, Lucien Wulsin II, who was the company’s president and also the son of Wulsin, had the brilliant foresight to create a significant reserve fund to tackle such predicaments. These reserves proved to be a lifeline for Baldwin, enabling them to navigate through the market downturn with resilience.

Baldwin Enters The War Effort

During the Second World War, the US War Production Board decided to temporarily halt piano manufacturing in order to contribute to the war effort. The Baldwin factories were then dedicated to producing airplane parts for different aircraft, including the Aeronca PT-23 trainer and the unsuccessful Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan cargo plane.

The experience gained in constructing plywood wings greatly influenced Baldwin’s later piano models, particularly in the innovative 21-ply maple pinblock design.

Following the conclusion of the war, Baldwin got back on track with selling pianos. Their efforts paid off as their production numbers doubled from before the war by 1953. In a groundbreaking move, Baldwin introduced their first electronic organ in 1946, which turned out to be a massive success. This triumph led the company to rebrand itself as the Baldwin Piano & Organ Company.

Leadership took a new shape in 1961 when Lucien Wulsin III took over as president. The company continued to expand its reach by acquiring renowned German piano manufacturer C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik, a partnership that lasted until 1986. Baldwin’s growth was further evident when they established a state-of-the-art piano manufacturing facility in Conway, Arkansas in 1959. Who is Baldwin Piano?

One Million Upright Pianos And More Expansion

Originally focused on producing upright pianos, the company reached a remarkable milestone of one million upright pianos built by 1973. Seeking further innovation and growth, Baldwin constructed another piano factory in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1961. As a result of this expansion, the production of upright pianos shifted from Cincinnati, Ohio to Greenwood.

The company decided to take advantage of the booming pop music industry. After an unsuccessful attempt to acquire Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Baldwin made a smart move and purchased Burns of London in 1965 for $380,000. They started selling these guitars through their piano retail outlets.

During this period, a talented engineer named Robert C. Scherer developed the revolutionary Prismatone pickup specifically for nylon string guitars. Despite their lack of experience in guitar marketing, Baldwin stores struggled to attract guitar enthusiasts, leading to disappointing sales. In 1967, Baldwin also acquired Gretsch

guitars, which had an experienced sales team and a strong network of authorized retail outlets. However, despite their efforts, Fender and Gibson remained the kings of the market, and sales fell short of expectations. Eventually, the Gretsch guitar operation was sold back to the Gretsch family in 1989, making way for new opportunities. Who is Baldwin Piano?

$3.6 Billion In Revenues

In the exciting decade of the 1970s, the company embarked on an ambitious mission to expand its reach into the world of financial services. Led by the dynamic Morley P. Thompson, Baldwin took bold steps and acquired numerous businesses. By the early 1980s, they proudly possessed an impressive portfolio of over 200 savings and loan institutions, insurance companies, and investment firms, including the prestigious MGIC Investment Corporation.

Demonstrating their passion for growth, the company even rebranded itself as Baldwin-United in 1977 following a successful merger with United Corp.  In 1980, the company decided to establish a brand-new piano manufacturing facility in Trumann, Arkansas. However, by 1982, the piano division only made up a small fraction of Baldwin’s massive $3.6 billion revenues. Who is Baldwin Piano?

Meanwhile, the company had taken on a considerable amount of debt to support its acquisitions and new facilities, making it increasingly challenging to meet its loan commitments. Unfortunately, in 1983, the holding company and some of its subsidiaries were forced into bankruptcy, accumulating a staggering debt of over $9 billion, marking the biggest bankruptcy at that time.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that the piano business remained unaffected by the bankruptcy proceedings.

Facing Bankruptcy In 1984

In 1984, when facing bankruptcy, the Baldwin piano business was acquired by its management, creating a truly inspiring story of resilience and determination. Just two years later in 1986, the new company transformed into the publicly traded Baldwin Piano and Organ Company, marking a significant milestone in their journey. To top it off, they relocated their headquarters to the vibrant city of Loveland, Ohio, symbolizing their upward trajectory and brighter future ahead.

Who is Baldwin Piano? Despite facing challenges such as changes in the population and tough competition from abroad, the company persevered. They took proactive steps to overcome these obstacles by acquiring Wurlitzer to expand their market presence and by relocating their manufacturing operations overseas to cut down on production expenses.

In a promising move, the company also decided to move their headquarters from Loveland to Deerfield Township in 1998.  In the 90s, the company experienced significant growth and by 1998, their workforce of 270 individuals in Conway, Arkansas were producing an impressive 2,200 grand pianos annually.

In 2001, however, their fortunes turned around when they were acquired by none other than Gibson Guitar Corporation. As part of their restructuring efforts in 2005, the company made the difficult decision to lay off some employees from their manufacturing plant in Trumann, Arkansas.

Baldwin’s Move To China

Being a subsidiary of Gibson Guitar Corporation, Baldwin Piano had successfully manufactured pianos under various brand names such as Baldwin, Chickering, Wurlitzer, Hamilton, and Howard. In a remarkable move, Baldwin has acquired and established two piano factories in China, specialized in producing exceptional grand and vertical pianos.

These include the highly sought-after Baldwin Hamilton studio models B243 and B247, which have garnered immense popularity, especially among educational institutions.

It is worth noting that all new pianos are proudly marketed under the prestigious Baldwin brand, with no association to Wurlitzer, Hamilton, or Chickering.

Who is Baldwin Piano? In 2010, Gibson made an empowering decision to entrust North American Music with the vital responsibilities of sales, marketing, and distribution for Baldwin Piano. Fast forward to today, and North American Music has triumphantly paved the way for Baldwin’s triumphant return, extending its reach across the entire United States and Canada.

Not only did Baldwin have the genius foresight to retain the remarkable expertise of Tom Dorn, a former Baldwin employee, for leading the sales and marketing efforts, but he has truly exceeded all expectations. Together, they have successfully expanded a nationwide network of dealers that now spans the entire United States as well as Canada.

Today With Baldwin

The remarkable journey of this company serves as a powerful reminder that with passion, hard work, and the right partnerships, there are no limits to what can be achieved. So let us celebrate the legacy of D.H. Baldwin & Company and the inspiring visionaries who built it from the ground up. Who Is Baldwin Piano?  Hopefully, you understand better now.

R. Kassman Piano

As a former employee of Baldwin Piano I am proud to announce that R. Kassman Piano Store is the Baldwin Piano representatives for the East Bay area of San Francisco in Berkeley, CA. Who is Baldwin Piano?  Baldwin is a cornerstone of my career and I am very proud that I am still proud of Baldwin Piano and the many accomplishments they have made. Please feel free to drop by and take a look at this iconic brand of pianos. You can also visit our shop via shop.rkassman.com 

Now when you are asked ” who is Baldwin Piano?” you know a little portion of the story.

Ric Overton