division made concert grand pianos as large as : the Imperial Bösendorfer. Kimball also made upright pianos in and sizes, but not smaller spinet models; a decision which allowed great profits to be made by competitors. However, Kimball produced inexpensive console pianos, between upright and spinet size, in a subsidiary plant across the Texas–Mexico border in Reynosa, doing business as Kimco. Based on the success of piano and organ sales, Jasper determined to leverage the Kimball brand recognition to assist sales of office furniture, home furniture and electronics. Company leaders realized that the Kimball brand had far greater popular recognition than the Jasper brand, and in 1974, Jasper changed its name to Kimball International, going public in September 1976 with the initial public offering of 500,000 shares of common stock. In 1980 Kimball International bought Krakauer Brothers, a New York piano maker founded in 1869, and Conn Keyboards, the piano and organ division of C.G. Conn ltd. The acquisitions were ill-timed, as piano and organ sales were in a long-term downward trend. In 1984, Kimball shipped and loaned 84 baby grands to the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for their use at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Opening Ceremony. In a section devoted to the Hollywood musical with George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" as the main theme, the 84 baby grands were rolled out under the arches of the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Kimball operated Krakauer for five years in New York before closing the plant. Because of a worldwide decline in piano and organ purchases through the 1980s and 1990s, the Kimball piano and organ subsidiary was discontinued in February 1996. The last Kimball grand piano was signed by every worker and company executive, and remains on display at Kimball's showroom in Jasper, Indiana. The Bösendorfer piano brand continued unaffected, but was sold back to Austrian buyers in 2002. Today On October 31, 2014, Kimball International announced the spin-off of Kimball Electronics resulting in a new furniture company. Kimball The Kimball brand made its first desk in 1970. Kimball expanded its offerings into a broad product line, including casegoods, systems, seating, filing, and tables. Kimball is based in Jasper, Indiana, operates manufacturing facilities in Jasper, and in Salem, and has showroom locations in major metropolitan areas around the U.S. National In 1980, Kimball International formed National Office Furniture to make mid-priced office furniture. Kimball Hospitality Kimball International entered the lodging