Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-31
ART IN PIANO MAKING.
SIX YEARS ARE NECESSARY FOR
PERFECT CONSTRUCTION.

Great Care in All Stages,of Manufacture
Is of Vital MISUNDERSTANDING Skill
Is an Absolute Qualification in Every
Workman.
Few people are aware of the amount of
time and labor required@to produce a piano.
From the time the first log. is sawed in the
forest until the finishing touches and final
~overhauling are given to the completed
piano from four to six years must pass.
That is, every piano turned out from the
factory or store today was begun four or
five years ago, and ever since that time
has been going through the various stages
of preparation II construction. One of
the large manufacturers, when asked by a
reporter as to the process of construction,
cheerfully gave the desired information, at
the same time leading the way through the
mandatory.
"This is in reality the second factory"
said he, "for all the material comes here in
place an experienced lumberman is en-
ployed by every manufacturer to select the
logs and see that the grains of the different
woods are straight and true. After these
have been sawed the lumber is piled under
"SesohS pAooA oACuo3 "uClc IL EcIlldluS
from three to five years, according to
air dried.
POLISHING THE WOOD.
when the case has been cut out in the
Massachusetts factory it is shipped here
and comes first into the vanishing depart
ment, where it remains from three to four
months in order that the pores of the
wood may be thoroughly filled. That is
really the secret of the fine polish on a fin
ished piano. While this is progressing in
the vanishing room other and important
work is being done on the interior of the
piano. The sounding board, which is also
seasoned n tested in the first factory, is
again thoroughly tested here.
Every grain of wood and every joint is
thoroughly investigated before it is put
into the case. Here the skill of the piano
maker begins, and only the most careful
and competent workmen are intrusted
with the responsibility Of this department.
Numerous mechanical and scientific ar
rangements are necessary to obtain salts
factory results with the sounding boards.
"Then the actions, keys and levers are
attended to in another room. These por-
tlons of the piano are of the most vital i'm
| portance, as it is upon the exact adjust
ment Of the many levers and center points
that the power and delicacy of the touch
depends. Unless great care and attention
is bestowed upon the details in this depart
ment the piano must prove a failure. The
next stage reached is where the hammer,
keys and actions are placed in their proper
| positions in the frame, when the piano first
gives forth sound as a musical instru-
ment.
"The principal object sought here is a
powerful blow of the hammer upon the
strings, to he produced by a light touch of
the performer. The workmen in this de-
partment must have skill and experience,
for the delicate n costly materials and
mechanisms they handle and place in pro-
per working positions make this branch
, one of great trust.
MANY DEPARTMENTS.
"In still another department the carvers
are at; work chiseling out legs and other
: ornamental portions of the piano. These,
too, have to go through a course of sprouts
in the varnish room. After the keys, lev
ers, hammers, sounding board and case
have been properly put together the piano
goes to the fly finishing department, WI ere
all those parts which nave been finished
separately are placed in their respective
positions; that is, the top, lock board, legs,
pedals and music rack are here adjusted.
"Now that the piano has been put to-
gether it remains in the fly finishing de-
partment from three to five weeks, and re-
ceives a preparatory course of tuning be-
fore going into the hands of the action and
tone regulators. These first tunings are
of great Importance, and on them much of
the future excellence of the piano depends.
"Then the instrument goes to the tone
regulating department, probably the most
important branch of all. Failure here is
fatal, and must result ~disastrously as far
as the production of a true musical instru-
ment is concerned. Here the mechanical
rules which have guided all previous de-
partments take a back seat, and the highly
trained ear and musical skill of the artist
take the lead. All sound is conveyed to
u sense of hearing by means of vibration
running in waves through the air.
"The tone regulator must thoroughly
understand the laws which govern the
production Of sound and tone Uneven
and irregular vibrations produce false and
discordant tones. On the other hand, even
and regular vibrations produce sweetness
of tone and harmony. It is of vital i'm
portance to the piano manufacturer to un-
derstand the laws which govern the pro.
duction of the false as we'll as the true
tones. 1t is in this department that the
quality Of the piano is determined.
"Of course you think this is the finish
ing point, but it isn't. Before it goes to
the warerooms the piano goes into the
hands of workmen Of the very highest
grade, who infinitely examine every por.
ton of the instrument. Every string and
hammer, every center lever and spring,
every screw and pin must undergo a rigid
inspection, and not until these have
been ascertained to be adjusted properly
and the instrument is found to be in per
feet condition is it passed over to receive
its final polish and be placed in the ware
room."-Brooklyn Eagle.
Eve Was q Crank.
Cranks are sometimes like the SHARP
niaoas of p1acs that stand IN vioioncIv or