The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-07
Piano Making.

~ akes nearly Tour years to make one
instrument; three years and some months
to season the wood, and three months to
form the parts. No less than l6 different
kinds of wood enter into the formation,
embracing the softest, toughest, hardest,
heaviest, lightest, and most compact grain.
In the action alone, there are IL differ
ent kinds Of wood The piano, moreover,
is cosmopolitan, from the fact that the veg
etable, animal, and mineral Kingdoms Of
the world contribute to its composition.
While spruce pine from Northern New
York, maple from West Massachusetts,,
pine and ash from Michigan, cherry from
Pennsylvania, walnut from Indiana, and
poplar from West Virginia, after passing
through choppers, sawyers, raftmcn and
inspectors, as well as buckskin of four
kinds, first from the wild deer aud then
from the manufacturers are necessary, this
country does not furnish all the material
required. Six kinds Of felt, four kinds of
cloth, four kinds Of metal, besides silver for
the plate, sivcr-gilded strings, cast-iron,
many kinds of paper, as also ivory, ebony
and varnish, are all imported from other
countries. In an ordinary piano there are
500 screws, 10 strings, s5 keys, and $50
key and tuning pins. In seven-octaye
square about 90 square feet of veneering
is used, and in the action alone there
are no less than 5,O72 pieces From the
foregoing, some conception of the requi-
sites of square, upright, or grand piano
may be formed
First in the manufacture Of a piano
comes the seasoning Of the wood, which Is
done by two years exposure. Next it is
subjected to several months storage in an
open building each piece being separated
to get an air drying, and then quarantine
of several months in building heated
with steam, followed by ten stages of hot
air drying during the process of manufac.
ture. Each manipulation of the wood and
each coat Of varnish is followed by dry.
ing process, and in the case Of the outside
rosewood pieces regular roasting The
heavier pieces Of wood being worked by
machinery, they together with the legs
are carved by the hands of skillful artists
to the required shape, and the sounding
and other boards shaved to the requisite
thinness by a planning machine. Then
comes the glueing, bending and veneering,
each followed by the drying, all of which
is accompanied with the most minute and
elaborate detail. Next in order are the
cases and tops, which are vanished FIVE
times, each coat being entirely scraped of
and another put on until the grain of the
wood appears, when they receive several
more coats of polish warn ish, are again
scraped and then rubbed down with pun
ice stone, again vanished, again rubbed,
and then polished by hand. The iron
frames, after being japanned, receive sew
eral coats Of paint, and are then rubbed
down and bronzcd, after which they are
ornamented in shaded gilt The compli-
Gated details of fitting the frames, finishing
the sounding boards, making the bridges,
uprights, strings and pins, as also the del.
icate scroll saw manipulations in making
the ivory keys and wooden lace work for
music rests, all battle description. The
ivory, like everything else, is submitted to
the drying process to prevent warping.
Next in order is placed the sounding-board,
fitting the strings and keyboard, and max
ing the movement" The movement
which includes the pedal arrangement,
hammers, hampers, and innumerable other
contriyances, which differ in the various
kinds of instruments, is so complicated
and elaborate in its construction rs to de-
fy description. As is well-known, each
key struck going a certain distance, which
differs in each key, raises a grooved ar
rangement connecting with the hammer
Of that key which, as the grooved connec-
ton slips out, hits the wire and flies back
to the first position. Each hammer flies
different distance, and is also regulated
by the felt coverings. The pedal operates
on the wires by strips of felt which press
against them. The movement being plac-
ed in position the wires are strung and
other finishing touches given, when, the
instrument having been carefully regulat-
ed by tuniug-fork, the tone and modula-
tion is perfect, and the manufacture Of the
piano is completed.