Piano Sales Up In U.K.

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32020, 21 June 1969, Page 5

Piano Sales Up In U.K.

The piano started to make a come-back to popularity in Britain a few years ago. The trend continues. As George Short reported in a 8.8. C. broadcast, sales in Britain have gone up by 30 per cent in two years, which in actual numbers means that some 11,000 British homes acquired pianos last year. The heavy side of the industry—concert grands—isn’t doing so well. But it is in the provision of medium-priced pianos for domestic use that British makers have always excelled, and it is in this area that they are flourishing now. A few years ago. the industry was in the doldrums. Why the sudden upsurge? Partly it is good salesmanship—makers now cater for all tastes, including brightly coloured instruments to fit in with room decor, and instruments with electronic attachments to alter the tone. Size has been scaled down to suit the small living rooms of modern houses, and at the same time performance has been improved. But there is another helpful trend: people are getting tired of canned entertainment.