Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-07

hk numerous kind expressions received
Il during the past week on account OF Pianos
ana their Manufacture, coupled with the ad
vice 70 continue In the good work, stimulates
me to throw all possible light on the gubject
as am an ardent believer IN
LET THERE BELIGHT.n
To-day propose to give briefly some idea OF
the oiference between the genuine and the
bogus article as far as Pianos are concerned.
The apparent qualities of q Piano are moth
ing to its lasting qualities. / witnessed the
amusing spectacle the other day of q purchaser
taking tape measure to ascertain which was
the largest, and because one Piano was two
inches shorter, 1t took me some time to ex.
plain to him that the quality and tone of the
instrument could not be measured by the
yard. manufacturer who makes q good
honest Piano with his own name, and not that
OF the dealer, uses the greatest precaution re-
CARELESS of expense, to make an instrument
which viii last lifetime or longer. He &C
cumuiateS the choicest lumber, which Is dried
IN the open air at least two years, afterwards
ne gives It four months k1ln-drying. The
wood is sawn rifttoise, that it cannot split or
warp. very important item in our changeabIe
climate de uses the finest felt for the ham
mers the purest copal varnish for the cases,
ana the sounding boards are made OF twelve
pieces so TO prevent their splitting. He takes
the greatest pride to have the most skilIful
LABOR, and thereby secures hrst-class inStru-
ment. What does the cheap manufacturer dos
He buys the poorest lumber, because it is
cheap. sawed In the most common manner and
has no time to season it, If it will warp and
spit ne does not care as long 1t Is not in his
shop. DE does not manufacture the iron
frames, key boards, cases, or any other parts,
but buys them ready made. His iron frames
the most important part IN a Piano, because it
wlthstands the strain of the strings, equal to
four tons, are cast out of ola stoves and CRATE
bars. His sounding boards, instead OF the finest
spruce, cut TtftlCiSe, are made OF box pine cut
any way. q have seen Pianos which made a
rafting noise, and ascertained that the sound
rd hah nd cd he
frame. His rosewood veneers are shaved
down 70 almost paper thickness The labor
employed to put these kind of instruments to-
gether is the cheapest, and in some instances
consist Of apprentice boys at the lowest wages.
NO Warerooms are necessary, the Piano is
shipped as soon as ready to the (contracD deal
er. No guarantee is given by the manufac
turer. If the dealer gives any he does so on
facturer is on the instrument, and not that of
the bona hde maker. To put one of these
new rattle boxes against a good instrument an
unmusical purchaser can hardly tell any differ
ence, which dealer, If he chooses, could not
explain away, by calling attention to these
little ID differences in the price Of the instru-
ment and not paying "a high price for the
reputation" OF an excellent manufacturer.
have stated that the manufacturer of cheap
Pianos does not keep a wareroom, he ships
from the factory. He makes his contract for
all parts OF his instruments. so many cases
iron frames, key boards to be delivered to him
by the month. He turns out so many Pianos
per month. A dealer who wants them must
take them also per contract, so many per
month, for an entire year.
After they leave his factory the manufac-
turer does not care what becomes of them
The dealer receives them and in turn must
find a market. He establishes agencies
throughout the country. and ships to them
without opening, often direct from the factory
in many instances saving money on the through
freight If the sales should fall off for some
reason or other. land still they come" there
will be Piano blockade, as the manufacturer
never lets up on his delivery contract; his con-
tracts tor the parts OF each Piano 60 on. He
don't retail them. he looks to the dealer for
their disposition. For this reason you can find
this class or instruments In auction rooms in
New York, or if you look under the head of
Pianos and Organs in the New York Herald
any day notice an advertisement "A family
about leaving town will dispose of their almost
new Piano, by first class maker, at a great
sacrifice. Call at private residence No. -
street, -. Boz for shipping" While in New
York followed up such an advertisement and
found rattle box With fictitious name. In
an auction room found another like it.
These are the Pianos shipped South. These
are the instruments scattered broadcast over
the country in cities, towns, villages and farms
In conclusion, l beg to assure all interested
that the series of articles on Pianos are not
written for glory or business advancement
but for the protection # the public at large
| do not pretend that keep the only reliable
Pianos. There are a number of others made
equally as good, represented by other dealers
but l do pretend to state the truth which
can substantiate at any moment Dividing
Pianos in four classes according TO their
grades, the third grade is as cheap in point Of
price as the fourth class or Stencil Pianos, and
decidedly preferable.
feb7-1t H. L. SCHREINER