The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-30
MIR. STEERS New piano Factory.

For some time past large force of work
men have been engaged by Messrs. Bruehl &
Bruins, builders, in the erection of new and
commodious piano mandatory, per order Of
Mr.. Charles NJ. Stieff, whose rapidly increas-
ing business in this interesting department OF
the mechanic arts demanded increased accom-
modations for the men employed The new
edifce is now completed, and occupied to its
entire capacity This new addition to their
principal factory renders it, with single ex-
ception, the largest south of New York The
latter has a front of forty six feet on Camden
street, with depth of one hundred and
eighty-fve to Perry street, and is five stories
in height. 1t will be recollected that shortly
after the commencement of the late war the
proprietor generously relinquished the occu-
pancy of the building for the use of sick and
wounded soldiers, but soon as other places
could be secured, it was again used for the
purpose originally designed. In the first
story the visitor is conducted through the dry
ing rooms, where high temperature of heat
is constantly maintained, in order that the
various kinds of timber may be well season
ed. The second story is devoted entirely to
the regulating and modulating Of the tone OF
each instrument preparatory to its removal to
the wareroolns, the making of scales and pat
terms and ths getting up of new designs The
third story is where the instruments receive
their strings, the intricate works, and what is
known as Diminishing, whilst the fourth con-
stitutes the vanishing department, and the
fifth devoted to the manufacture of all varie-
ties of cases, carved legs and tops These
two upper stories are provided with large
drying sheds, where fifty instruments may at
one time be exposed TO the sun and properly
dried. 81 ~ 7.-sa
The yard of this commodious factory, which
extends a square, conducts to the new build
ing, which is four stories in height, and 40
feet on Perry street. 1t stands entirely alone,
by which the operatives have the advantage
of four fronts, so to speak, each of which are
abundantly lighted. The first story is used
for the cutting up of lumber for the various
parts OF the instruments the second to the
important work of oase-naking the third
to sounding boards, and the insertion of the
full iron frames and the fourth to the getting
up OF music racks, carved feet, carved pedals,
key-boards and keyboard frames, aud all
other kinds of carving. We also noticed in
this building one of Mr. james Batess largest
and latest improved hoisting machines, which,
with the assistance Of but one attendant, will!
readily raise or lower two pianos at the same
time. There are in these factories all the ia
clities for the construction of grand and
square pianos of all styles and range of .oc-
taves, which, with the best materials and
skillful workmen, enable the proprietor to
maintain high position in the production of
choice instruments, and to fully compete with
other manufactures, both here and at the
North. la regard to this department of the
musical world, Baltimore fairly enjoys the1in-
side track especially in regard to the number
of fine pianos annually manufactured and
sold to the numerous towns and cities of both
this and other countries.
Mr. Stieff is now giving regular employ
ment to about seventy frst-class workmen,
and although business is dull at the present
time in some branches of trade, yet the de-
n,and for pianos continues, and consequently
thereare no workmen out of employ .-Balti-
more American, lA.s