I bought a 1958 Baldwin acrosonic piano, does anyone know anything about them?

Answer 1

Baldwin made a number of pianos under the Acrosonic label.

In the 1950's many of them were spinets, and were very popular. I'm not a fan of spinets, but if you gotta have one, the Baldwin Acrosonic was the best ever made IMO. As far as vertical pianos go, this was the top of their home piano line.

But keep in mind that these pianos have a service life of about 50 years. Good care as Mamianka says can extend that life somewhat.

My mother-in -law bought hers in 1954 and it is still playing merrily away.

Many schools bought Baldwin over the years, and generally the school model was known as a Baldwin Hamilton (a model 246 I believe) -- a 45" studio piano. I am not aware of an Acrosonic of that size, but as I have said before, I don't know everything!! But back in the 1950's Baldwin was considered one of the highest quality builders.

Baldwin is still producing pianos under their own name, but the company was purchased 4 years ago by the Gibson Guitar Company, as Baldwin was bankrupt. They are still building pianos in Conway, Arkansas. Acrosonic is still the top of their home piano line. They market a piano called Hamilton, but it is made in China. And they have just purchased the Chinese manufacturer Dong Bei, which is considered by many, including Larry Fine, as the best manufacturer in China. IMO, vastly superior to the omnipresent Pearl River.

Answer 2

There are several editions out of a book called "The Piano Book" by Larry Fine. There is some informations there that could help you. Theres durable uprights were often the choice for homes and schools ( the school ones have a different leg style, which made them stand up to being constantly moved around). My school ( I am a choral director) has several of these, purchase in 1963 when the school was built - they are real workhorses. A lot depend on HOW your instrument has been cared for - including neglect (leaving it near a heater in winter, etc.) Baldwin, like many piano companies, seen it s fortunes rise and fall - and after some alliances with other manufactures. I do not think that are currently making anything under th Baldwin name. This does not make you piano RARE - it just means that brand is gone - no fanfare, just gone.

Thank you, glinzek- I stand corrected. It was the US manufacture of the Hamiltons that is gone. Yes, these are the beasts that graze at my school. No acrosonics - they are stricly home cats. And I agree about spinets - only thing worse are *baby grands* - in white French provincial, no less . . .

Answer 3

Not really.