I think most of the article is pretty good although some of it reads more like an advertisement for Mason & Hamlin which is not surprising since I think they interviewed one of the top people in the company for the article. There are two major errors in the article. The author forgot about Charles Walter pianos, the third piano maker in the United States. I think the bar graph showing the number of pianos made in the United States has the wrong scale because it says the vertical scale is measured in hundreds of thousands of pianos. I think it should say just thousands of pianos. BTW my piano is an M&H model BB from around 2008.

Didn't somebody just recently mention another low volume producer of good quality pianos in the US? I think it had to do with someone wanting to purchase a smaller 5 ft or 5 ft 4" grand.

Today, only two active manufacturers remain: Steinway & Sons in New York, and this place — Mason & Hamlin.

Only two?? I thought maybe there were one or two others?

🙁

@"pseudonym58"# You may be thinking of Cunningham pianos but those are mostly made in China to Cunningham's specifications. There may be some finishing work done in the United States.

    pianoloverus I don't know how much tweaking Cunningham does, the piano looks very similar in construction and features to the Hailun one, the company that makes it for them. But in general, I'd be curious what advantages a US made piano will have over others, beyond the quality of materials used or better quality control in general. In my mind, most patentable advances have most likely been copied by other manufacturers.
    Are there new advances happening in piano making anymore?

        raagamuffin I don't know how much tweaking Cunningham does, the piano looks very similar in construction and features to the Hailun one, the company that makes it for them.

        You can't tell anything about scale design by looking at pictures of the pianos unless possibly one is a highly knowledgeable tech or piano designer.

          I concur, It may well be different scale design to a Hailun. I was only thinking of what happens after it's here in the US, what sort of labor is put into it to consider it a somewhat US made piano. Are parts of 'scale design' done after manufacture?

          Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Charles Walter, and Ravenscroft are American piano manufacturers who build pianos that are built fully in the US.

            I've never seen, heard, or touched a Ravenscroft piano. The company was cofounded by piano technician and former piano rebuilder Michael Spreeman. The company is in the Phoenix area. They make only two models-- a 275cm (9') grand and a 220cm (roughly 7') grand, both purported to be of very high quality.

            https://ravenscroftpianos.com/

              sweelinck wow, so a true boutique piano I guess.

              Warning: petty comment below.

              They are nice looking instruments but somehow I really dislike the way the logo looks on the side (it looks ok on the fallboard). There are more photos on their site, but here’s one.

                Actually that photo doesn’t look too bad, here’s the photo where I really didn’t like the logo. Don’t know why, it’s totally subjective I know. Maybe because it looks silver tone instead of golden?

                Logos are sometimes painted in that location on pianos for performance spaces so that the audience will see it. I've seen Steinway, Yamaha, and Boesendorfer painted on in that location. I've even seen piano dealers names there when they supply a piano for an event. I assume it would be optional on the Ravenscroft piano as well.

                  sweelinck Logos are sometimes painted in that location on pianos for performance spaces so that the audience will see it. I've seen Steinway, Yamaha, and Boesendorfer painted on in that location.

                  Yes, I’m quite familiar with that. And it’s not only the brands you mentioned, I always assumed most (all?) concert grands have their logos on the side. Actually it never occurred to me that it would be optional, IOW, can you get a modern 9’ S&S without the logo on the side?

                  I just for some reason really don’t like the way the Ravenscroft logo looks there. I’m not sure why. And it’s not because it’s a more modern font, because I always thought the Fazioli logo looked nice.

                    Shiro, I know this is going to sound 'funny' but could it be the word Ravenscroft itself?
                    Reminded me of a HP Hogwarts House (Ravenclaw).
                    It could be that the word is on the longer side?
                    another weird/funny thought, many of the letters are round ones making the word seem longer?
                    Just thought I would add my 2 cents!
                    brdwyguy

                      I like the large castors...almost big enough to be aircraft wheels.🙂

                      brdwyguy could be! I was actually going to complain about the name (I don’t like that “s’ in there!) but then I realized it’s the surname of one of the owners, so it can’t be helped. 😅 But “Ravencroft” would sound better to me, so maybe it would look better too!’’

                      Actually, the more I look at it, I think it’s just the logo. All the letters are the same size, and they’re smooshed together. Obviously, that’s a design choice, but it’s a choice I dislike! 😆