The sun., 1888-09-23
Il MOTH-E1TEN PIANO.
Tuner Discovers One, and Tells Queer
Thing. About Pianos Losing Tune.


"a moth-eaten piano! Who ever heard of
such thinG:"
Such was the exclamation. the other day, Of
well-known young lady amateur pianist OF
this city to piano tuner who had been sent
to her house by n dealer OF whom she had pur-
chased II costly instrument three months bo-
fore and which, much to her amazement. had
developed series of wheczy, rattling responses
to her touch on several keys. The tuner had
tried the piano, and promptly gave her the sur
prisng information that the moths had been
eating it: whereupon her exclamation Of incre-
dulity and amazement.
"A moth-eaten piano! Who ever heard Of
such a thing"
Il hear of it nearly every day" replied the
tuner. land surprise at a moth-eaten piano Is
nothing new to me. There is nothing moths
like better than to rovel in the interior Of n
piano. Soft cloth, as you should know, is used
to no small degree in the delicate mechanism
OF a piano. 1t is placed wherever tlere is lia-
bility,o OF contact between any OF the numerous
movable portions of the instrument. in order
to avoid the rattline noises that would result
from such contact 1t is on this cloth that
moths love to feed. and the ravenous pests are
spot and bringing about tho result the cloth
was nut thero to prevent. Let US SEQ II this is
not the case with your piano..
Tho tuner opened the instrument. uncovered
It's maze OF strings. and pins, and lis rows OF
desas ,h lss Of dust
"Ahi" said tbe tuner: II thought so.l The
Know he moths are here they can AMI Se i quickly ky
and easily extermna1ed: The best . way to
less than once u week. Your instrument is
sc.!mewhat @ opt q Of tune, see madam"
instrument "It has been in use but three
months and good piano should certainly re-
main in tune year"
piano players" replied the tuner. " 1t is really
surprising to note tho ignorance that prevails
prnena Object H i Of tIe best msRers so
have their instruments stand in tune well.
Unless they succeed In that the quality of
will be of only superficial value. But even
pianos bearing the names of famous makers
speet p There are good eas REASONS for IT, oos
for a moment. at the way the musical part of
piano is made Ihe steel Gips that hold the
and in order that this wood may retain n firm
hold Of the pins. and yet f,lmit Of them being
great care and md ski necessary in The fittng n a Of
them. but it is absolutely requisite that the
wood forming the pin block should bc Of
the very best seasoned material Out
door seasoning, is the only method by
which this wood may mny be perfectly cured. no
trary. Outdoor seasoning requires long time
and the keeping on hand of immense stocks by
me manuiacturer. representing an investment
OF thousands and thousands OF dollars. There
arc not many manufacturers who can afford TO
Hf,1 keep 50 much capital lying idle and they are
to use the kiln dried wood In their pianos. no
the coming into use of kiln driving is duo tho
great great increase IN the number OF n!ano makers
larlors, esrociallyii it is hot air Irom furnace
acts disnri,rously, npon this kin-driod rin
made to stay in tune after three Years use. be.
cause the wood shrinkS gradually, and the pins
move in tho block from every hard blow on the
wlres AS 70 tho action Of furnace heat on
pianos. 1t Injuries even those OF the best max
crs. II warps the keys, loosens .he hold Of the
causes the KEYS to stc; or rattle. thus sadly AZ
iectipg the action Of tho instrument. A plano
should be kert away from the direct influence
IN spite Of all tho efforts of tho makers. do
not believe there is one piano in 100 that. with
than two Months na "ss Wn sIhnh IN time mors
Is true, will fail to detect any mportant discord
IN hnt n n,onH or SIX months or perhaps longer
ant notes that tho best piano will Insist upon
giving out after two months OF nse When
you think that tho stoel wires and iron frames
are alternatoly contracting and expanding I'M
DOR NE yirations OF the surrounding atmos-
phere giving Il constant movement OF thcwltes
OF ne instrument, the impossibllty OF piano
perfect tone for any length of
KIM ime n,mst 9 no a. once apparent and i yon will
~. ohcct On inc surprising iact that the tension
pl me strings OF piano causes strain on tho
loO.OoO pounds you will doubtless agree with
me that piano that will remain in rerfe"ttune
M l2r year Is nm instrument thar must nccessu-
riiy be one OF oieAtrenle rarity, ii not one impos-
piano, good bad. or Indifferent when
pew. should be tuned once II month. Tho
ionSor nm instrument remains untuned the
lower its pitch OF tone becomes. and when 1t IL
desired to have tho piano drawn to concert
pitch the strain on tho body OF tho instrument
~ greatly Increased. so much In fact. that the
case " liable 10 yield gradually. necessitntinga
secOhu tuning In week. or two weeks"