The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-08
HOW PIANOS ARE MADE.
A REPORTERS WALK THROUGH A
LARGE FACTORY.
The various Processes and Material,
A big Margin OF Profit Left for
the Manufacturer.

piles of lumber and coils of wire the in.
strument which can become one either
of torture or pleasure is fashioned.
A piano may in the making be
divided into four parts: the case; the
framing and sounding board the string
ing; the keys and action. The case is
the most expensive part of the instrument
though upon it depends none of the
value oil the piano as musical instru-
ment. Until within few years, cases
were almost invariably made of rosewood,
but now every variety of wood from ma
hogany to holly is used. 1t must not be
supposed, however, that a case of rose
wood or any other sort of fancy wood is
made of that material entirely. The real
case is of white wood, and the appear
ance of the most expensive wood is given
by a thin veneering, applied with ex-
IRENE care. The framing has for the
last sixty years been formed in part or
whole of iron. This is necessary on ac-
count of the immense strain produced by
the strings, the sum of whose tention
amounts to from seven to ten tons. The
sounding board is of thin spruce. The
strings are of iron wire covered with
either copper or steel wire or else plain.
The action and keys are formed of ivory,
white wood and felt.
A New York Tribune reporter was led
through large factory from the top
story down, and found each floor de-
voted to one special branch Of the man
ufacture. His guide volubly explained
as they passed through the why and
wherefore of everything.
,,4 h. IL. L
/ "and an important room it is, too. The
polishing of piano is long, laborious
business. The varnish is laid on first in
four or five successive coats, which are
each of them rubbed down when
dry with pumice stone and water. Then
other finishing coats are applied, which
are sandpapcred until the final polishing
coat is applied. Altogether there are
nine or ten coats of varnish or polish ap-
Piled"
! The next floor was reached.
"These men are building up the
cases, " said the guide They are held
together by wooden clamps, and when
! finished are taken apart, numbered and
sent upstairs to be polished. That man
is veneering. A thin, paper-like sheet
of rosewood is glued to that inch thick
piece of white wood, and both are then
subjected to enormous pressure at high
, temperature. The glue pours out at the
sides, and the veneer is almost part of
of the humber wood it masks 1t will
never blister or crack. That oddly
shaped piece of iron is the frame. We
do not cast those ourselves, as itwould
not pay. In that little room are the
regulators, who, after the piano is made
tone it by carefully tightening or loosen
ing the strings. The regulator is the
highest paid workman in the factory. 1t
takes him a little over day to
tone piano if he is working
by time. If he is piece working
he gets it done within the day. Before
coming to him, however, the instrument
passes through many hands, for each
man has his own line, and never departs
from it. There are key-makers, hammer
makers, hammer leatherers, stringers,
case-makers and finishers, soundboard-
makers, and so on. The keys are made
as rule outside the factory, as it would
not be worth while to have the necessary
machinery for ivory working"
Floor after floor was visited, until
u,
and after that the wareroom where
rows of shining instruments stood, each
carefully covered to protect it from the
dust. There, sir, :" said the guide, that
is where a piano finds its way six months
or so after its manufacture is begun"
"What is the average price of a pianos"
''Well, that's a difficult question to
answer. You can buy piano at retail
for $780, or rather for want of better
name is called piano. You can also
think yourself lucky if you get one for
$500 as a special favor from the manu-
tacturer. Our instruments sell for 500,
but to you would put it in at 5000
cash. The courteous offer was declined,
but mentioned with appreciation subse-
quently to a man who has been connected
with the piano trade. His scorn was
immense.
"Why, come to me, y said he, "and l
will set you the same piano for $3.50 on
easy terms. There is more nonsense
talked in that business than in any other
| have ever heard of. The cash price of
piano to any one who is in any way
connected with the business is invariably
fifty per cent. lower than the cata-
logue price. Now I'll just give you
a few figures to show that the
manufacture is not such very costly
affair after all. Mind you, too, | am
speaking of first class instruments.
Wages vary from $12 to $50 a week, or
in the case of a good regulator to S35
Lumber is dear, but there is not veIs
much used after all in a piano. White
wood costs from S35 to $50 /, 900 feet
The best spruce taken from the sunny side
of the tree for sounding boards is $40 a
1000 feet A set of keys costs about
ST. ready for use. The castings neces.
sary come to about $12 The strings
say about thirty covered stringS-are
So. so. Cases, when made by the piece,
as is generally the case, are put in at
about $420 dozen, for the very best
though they are often contracted for in
good shops at about $3.50 dozen. Alto
gether the average price OF first class
instrument to the manufacturer is about
$3.50 all told, which leaves fair margin
! of nrOfit for apents and retailers when