ROUND THE EXHIBITS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2706, 28 February 1916, Page 6

ROUND THE EXHIBITS

THE '.'COLLARD- PIANO

A show of the famous Collard and Collard pianos was made at the Patriotic 'Exhibition by the wholesale agents for Wellington, Messrs. A. A. Corrigan and Company. These instruments are of tasteful design as to their exterior, and as the demonstrators showed, aro exquisite in tone. The firm of Collard and Collard was established in 1760, and, unlike so many big enterprises winch have been converted into soulless jo'ht stock companies, it has remained in the sole ownership and control of t'lie Collard family for all the years since that time. The present hoad of the firm is Mr. John C. Collard, who is known throughout the United Kingdom as a genial but astute and efficient ■nan of business, whose greatest pride is that the pianos he makes and sells are as good as can be made. It has been the fashion to say that the English manufacturers have been oblivious to the requirements of the Overseas Dominions. We have heard much of the stiff-necked Englishman who will not deviate one inch from his conservative methods to serve even big customers in this small Dominion. But Mr. Collard has twice visited Australia and New Zealand, with the special object of finding out our requirements and working to them. These instruments which the firm sends out to New Zealand now are the result of his researches. _ It has been said that the Collard piano has only one defect— its longevity—that at the age when another piano is no more than a wooden case with a name on it, .the Collard remains a musical instrument. Most buyers will overlook this "fault"- of longevity. Such firms as Collard and Collard are now coming into their own. It is quite true that for some years the English manufacturer has felt acutely the pressure of competition from the German pianos which, as pieces of cabinet work, appealed to some cusfomers. These German instruments were often gaudy and ornate in design, but as the purchaser all too often discovered, were mere beautiful pieces of cabinet work with the skeleton of a piano inside. There were German pianos of excellent tone—while it lasted —but people of musical tasto and experience will generally admit that the German piano, however good it may bo when new, quickly wears. The sale of these German instruments used to bo pushed by"retailers, because they could quit them at enormous ratC3 of profit. Now, tlio English makers are haying their turn, and the Collard has no' superior among English makes. It is a popular fiction that the English piano is very costly, that the prices aro prohibitive for the man of modest means. This is uot so. The Collard can bo purchased at prices well within the range of prices paid for pianos for the average household.—(Published by. arrangement.)