During 1978 Fazioli Pianos was formed.

1978

The Erard name was taken over by Schimmel of Germany.

1980

Kawai opened their Ryuyo grand piano facility. The 300,000 square-foot plant was built at a cost of $50 million and is capable of producing over 60 grand pianos per day. The Ryuyo factory embodies the marriage of hand-craftsmanship and advanced automated technology.

1980

Kemble pianos made the decision to move into retailing and acquired Chappell of Bond Street, London, opening a second branch in the Milton Keynes shopping centre.

1980

On 3rd December Broadwood stopped making their own upright pianos, though they continued to be produced by Kembles, and are now made by Welmars.

1980

Paolo Fazioli exhibited his first hand-built piano at the Frankfurt Fair.

1982

Broadwood purchased Danemann Pianos and the factory.

1982

Steinway stopped using ivory on piano keys.

1983

Eavestaff stopped making pianos in the UK.

1984

Zender pianos were made by Bentley's for them.

1984

Yamaha acquired a majority shareholding in Kemble organ sales and the company was renamed "Yamaha-Kemble Music (UK) Ltd." The Kemble piano factory signed an agreement to start making Yamaha pianos under licence in the UK. The piano production was re-fitted with state of the art machinery and computer-controlled production techniques supplied by Yamaha.

1985

The Birmingham brothers bought Steinway and the rest of CBS's musical instruments division (except Fender).

1985

Bentley's were to stop making their own actions and keys. They were to be provided by Herrburger Brooks.

1986

Baldwin sold Bechstein to Karl Schulze, the German piano master technician.

1987

Zender was completely taken over by Bentley which included Rogers Pianos.

1988

By this time Schimmel were making their own keyboards.

1989

The Danemann Name was sold to Gardner Pianos in Cardiff in connection with the Welsh Enterprise Board.

1989

Frazer pianos were taken over by Hellas.

1989

Broadwood pianos were made at Bentley's under licence.

1990

Barratt & Robinson and Challen pianos were being made in Malaysia. Frames, actions and keys were coming from the UK with felt from the Royal George Mill. The actions were by Langer. Dietrick Dotzek from Germany designed the wrest plank and stringing scale.

1990

Knights was acquired by Bentley.

1990

Chavanne Pianos was established in France, making high quality upright pianos, 125 cm. in height, using spruce from Fiemme in Italy, with Renner actions.

1991

The Beethoven Broadwood Fortepiano tour of Vienna, Bonn, Bath, London, and Budapest took place.

1993

Bentley, Broadwood and Knight were acquired by Welmars. David Grover of Bentley moved with them as head of overseas sales.

1994

The parent company Bury, Cooper & Whitehead of the Royal George Felt Factory, Oldham, closed down. The Royal George Felt Factory, however, continued making felt till its closure in 1998, when a Far Eastern company bought the felt making machinery.

In 1990 the company was given the Queen's Award for export achievement, as 95% of production was exported. When they were at their peak the hammer felt produced at Royal George was enough for over 160,000 pianos in one year.

1995

Barratt & Robinson pianos are now being made by Mickleburgh of Bristol. Sadly they are not staying with the Barrett serial numbers, which will cause confusion in the future. For example, Barratt number 44688 becomes 1998 under Mickleburgh and Barratt's old number 44688 becomes 1963. The pianos are not for export outside of the UK at the moment.

1995

Trinity College, London, received the Queen's Award for Export Achievement, a first for a music examining board.