Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-23

turning which the opening Of each when touched by it's
impingng wire may be regulated. The player reaches
these screws by merely unlocking the plinth lower
front of the instrument case, which, turning down on
hinges, exposes to view series of small holes, each
leading to the screw of a particular reed, the of
the particular note being imprinted the correspond
ing hole BY inserting key like that Of watch, which
hts the head of all the screws they be turned at
pleasure Thus the piano loses its pitch for the time
being in notes. the corresponding note of the
9oian may be made to exactly harmoniae with the
change, the operation not requiring than perhaps
half minute to the note The patent for this improve
has been purchased by Messrs Nunns Clark and
forms great addition indeed, to the completeness of
their instruments with the eolian attachment To give
the reader idea of the perfection which this attachment
has been brought in the hands Of these manufacturers
will mention fact within my knowledge viz. that
not long since Capt. N. b. Palmer, who commanded
the clipper ship Hauqua sailing between New York and
China carried of their aoan attachment pianos in
his cabin to Canton and back for the use Of relative
making the voyage On its return New York the
dton Of the attachment critically examined by
petent artists and it found vary the least in
any reed or note from its pitch first going board
ship.
No chamber organs are any where made more delicate
these attachments they go forth from under the
hands of Nunns Clark, while their cost is very little
more than that of fine accordeon
But, to return to the details of the establishment Of
these gentlemen. They up some $500 pounds Of
ivory annually brought principally from the gold coast
1t is sawed out and paned and squared the saving and
planning before described and put the keys by
the key makers in the key shop The last operation is
regulating and tuning the instruments, which is done
in the fourth story wherein of artists are con-
stantly employed Their labors similar to those of
piano tuners every where except that they critically in
pec and test the finish of each and every part of the
ton Of every instrument before passing it ready be
sent down to the salesrooms In the regulating depart
ment the beautiful instrument which carried off the
medal at the Worlds Fair before referred to.
exaggeratng in pronouncing it of the three best
square pianos in the world that being the decision of the
jury of manufacturers and artists who gave the palm
that OCCASION basng their award on the marked superb
ority of its tone-for depth decacy pathos briancy
and volume-over any other instrument the other
two victors exhibited that occasion 1t is the
property Of r. L. Stevens, Esq, who purchased it for
ST 50o its higher value than other rstcass instruments
from the establishment arising especially from the
award in its favor The finish of the casing of the keys
which of pearl &c., richer than that of any instru
ment there, Of course, got up for exhib
ton the fair. In its working parts however could
discover material difference between that particular
instrument and the other first class pianos
being regulated for the salesrooms by its side
Messrs Nunns s Clark employ in all about one hun
dred and fifty hands, number equal to that employed in
any other similar factory in the city, though they turn
only about fifteen pianos weekly, average Of
two being turned out in few of the city piano
factories The average price which their instruments
/ sci ia
than that of any other establishment Their markets
in all quarters Of the United States their pianos being
sought after for Southern and Western use owing
tho Perf~so % which thAy bring their woods Of all de-
scrptons by the superiority Of eir seasoning arrspge
ments.
omitted to mention above that they have always in
their steam drying average Of S650000 feet Of
sawed and shaved pieces.
Among the most noteworthy things about these facto-
ries, may mention that they entirely proof against
FIRE communicated internally. Not light is ever per-
mitted to them. They warmed by steam and,
except in their 6re-prOof cased boiler ROOM no fire is
kndled or brought upon the premises The result
is that though they have been in the business since
1922 they have suffered from conHagration great
small II would be great thing for the country il
proprietors Of cabinetmakers shops &C. would every
where adopt less their simple effective
contrivances for obtaining requisite heat without the
danger Of FIRE.
cannot IN justice close this letter without expressing
the pleasure derived from witnessing the extreme neat
and apparent regularity Of all things their pre-
misses their workmen and all being as ceanly and
intelligent in appearance any body of men in any
business house Of any description entered learn
that they principally Americans the rest being for
the most part, Scotch and Germans.
Hoping that have not tired your readers with this
long detailed account Of very important branch Of
national industry, remain yours, SC. w. DIV.