COLLARD AND COLLARD PIANOS

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 818, 3 March 1916, Page 7

COLLARD AND COLLARD PIANOS

There was a time when German- piands were very much the vogue in the colonies of. Great Britain. The reason was that in comparison with English pianos they were some, what cheaper and for their price they seemed to have a fairly broad tone. But experience has shown that in the majority of cases the tone has faded into an exasperating " tinniness" and deluded purchasers have recognised that after all it would have been better for them to have invested in British made instruments of stamina and enduring quality. In recent years English manufacturers have, in addition to preparing " actions " that will stand the test of years, paid particular attention to the broadening ol the tone. In 'no instance has a mote conspicuous examglg been set in this direction than by the old established firm of Collard and Collard. It dates back as far the year 1760, a remarkable circumstance 'in these days of companymongering being that the business has since remained under the immediate control of the Collard family. The head of the firm for some time past has been Mr. John C. Collard, and it is well known throughout the trade that this gentleman takes a greater pride in maintaining the unblemished record of the firm than mere money making. Good as the quality of Collard and Collard pianos has always been, the touch and tone of the present day instruments as compared with those of even recent years are marvellous, and the great improvements which have ,been made in ordinary cottage pianos come in the nature of a revelation. Alongside such fine specimens of the manufacturing art no Germans need apply with or without the war. German pianos were bound to be knocked out in any circumstances. As to the prices now being asked for these high-class English instruments they must be regarded as remarkably cheap considering their magnificent quality in every respect. The wholesale representatives for Collard and Collard in New Zealand are Messrs. A. A. Corrigan and Co., of Lower Cuba street, Wellington.—(Published by arrangement.)