Prominent East Coast piano makers snubbed the Chicago exposition because they feared Chicago favoritism, and because of philosophical differences between their reliance on traditional name brand faithfulness and Kimball's streamlined modern efficiency which greatly threatened their sales. By 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition, at which Kimball received the 'Worlds Columbian Exposition Award', Kimball was known for high quality, efficiency in manufacture, and aggressive sales practices using 35–40 traveling salesmen to cover cities and remote areas. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik, and these men initiated improvements to the piano line. Kimball hired veterans from Steinway & Sons and C. In 1887, Kimball began building a five-story factory for making its own pianos, and the next year produced 500 instruments of unremarkable quality. Kimball stopped making reed organs in 1922 after having produced 403,390 instruments.

Soon, the factory was producing 15,000 organs a year the world's largest organ maker. In 1882, the Kimball company was incorporated, and an expansive factory was built to produce reed organs. After three years, the company began offering organs made entirely in house. Earhuff Company and cases made by contractors. Kimball began assembling its own reed organs, using actions made by the J.G. The Great Chicago Fire destroyed all of Kimball's commercial assets in 1871, but he continued selling from his home, and rebuilt his dealership business. Kimball also sold less expensive reed organs. In 1864, Kimball moved from its earliest location in the corner of a jewelry store to sales rooms in the Crosby Opera House where Kimball sold pianos made by East Coast piano makers Chickering and Sons, the J & C Fischer Piano Company, Hallet & Davis, F.C. Kimball and Company by William Wallace Kimball (1828–1904). This division started as a piano dealership in Chicago in 1857 as W.W.

Kimball and Company, the world's largest piano and organ manufacturer at certain times in the 19th and 20th centuries. Kimball International consists of furniture brands: Kimball, National, Interwoven, Etc., Poppin, D'Style and Kimball Hospitality.

Kimball baby grand piano 1970