The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-01-17
ART or PIAN0-MAKING.
Noariy six Years Necessary for
Perfaot Construction

STorh Requiring = large Etpsaditurs ~
INNS Nnd Lahor The Actions sf ths
Ne,s aud Levers of vital Inpsr-
tnbce The sounding Hoard.
Few people are aware Of tho amount
of tine aud labor required Is produce a
piBua From ho time tho nrst log ia
sawed Ia tho forest until tho anlshinR
t1achcs ana anal oYorbaulng arc glyon
~ the completed piano from four 70 ak
years must pass. That is, every piano
tnEnod out from tho factory or store To-
daA WAS began four or hvo years ago,
-ua cvcr since that Tins has boon go
ing through tie various stages y prep
aration aud construction Ono ot the
largo manufacturers when asked by a
BruuNlNn Eagle reporter as to the
pracess-of construction checrfuly gave
the desired information, at tho same
Dme leading Tho way through tho man
uttctorN
@Ihis Is in reality the second factory"
said he, "for an the material comes here
iu partially completed state. In tho
hrst place, an experienced lumberman
Is employed by every manufacturer TO
scleet the logs and soe that tho grains
of Che different woods arc straight and
true. After these haye been sawed the
lmbef is plod under weather proof
shcd+ whore "a remana from three 10
Hre telrs. according 20 thickness. until
it haa bee0un thoroughly air dried
"Nhen the case has boon cut out In
tho Massachusetts factory II Is shipped
hore and comes first into tho vanishing
department where IL remains from three
e faur months In order that the porea
~ me wood may bo thoroughly nllcd.
fhut is really tho secret Of tho nne
polish on q finished piano. Whilo this
work s progressing ia tho yarnlshing
room. other aud important work ia being
done on tho interior OF the piano. The
sounding board, which IL also seasoned
and tested in the first factory is again
thoroughly tested here. Every grain Of
wood aud every Joint is thoroughly in
Yfstirated before 1t IL put into the case
Here mo SKIN of the piano maker bo-
R,usand only the most careful and com
uc ant Workmen are inirustcd with the
responsibility oi this department.
Numerous mechanical and scientific ar
raugnments are necessary TO obtain
6a lafaefury results with tho sounding
boards
Then the actions, keys and levers
are attended to IN another room. These
portions 81 the piano sr0 of the most
vital Importance. as H. is upon the exact
adlastuent OF the many levers and CON
ter points that tho rover and delicacy
~ tho touch depends Unless great
care aud attention Is bestowed upon tho
"details iu this department tho piano
must prove failure. Tho next stags
reached Is where tho hammers, keys
aHd actions are placed IN their proper
paHitions iH the frame, when the piano
ilgat gives forth sound as a musical in
etrumont. The principal object sought
here l. powerful blow ot tho hammer
mon the strings, 70 be- produced BY \
light touch ~ thc performer The work
men IN hisdepartment must have skin
and experience, for tho delicate and
costly materials and mechanisms thoy
handle and place In proper working
pnsitions make this branch one Of great
trust.
'ln still another department the oarv-
q afc 4 work. chlscliug out legs and
utaor ornamental portions ot tho plano.
These. too. have 20 70 through a
course ~ sprouts ia the vsrnish room.
Aftor thr lseys levers hammers, sound
lux board and case have been properly
put together tile piano Foes 10 tho ny
iiBi4Hiug department, whore All those
parls ~hieA haze been finished separate
arr placed IN their respective posi-
tiaus. That rs, tho top lockboard. legs,
pedals and mus sig rack are here adjusted.
eNoH liar the piano has been put To-
grthet 10 remaius ln tie Gy finishing
department from three ~ five weeks
weea and reeeiyes preparatory course
~ inning befOre going into the hands Of
the action and tome regulators. These
hfst tHuings are ~ great Importance.
and ou them much of the future excel
ionce oi tho piano depends.
tIhen the instrument goes " tho tone
regulating department, probably tho
most important branch Of all. Failure
hero ~ fatal, and must result disastrous
~ ~ far as the production of true
musical instrument Is concerned.
sOi course you think this is the I'm
sizing point, but It isn't. Before II
goes % the warc-roorns tho piano goes
into the hands of workmen OF the very
highest grade, who minutely examine
every portion of the instrument Every
string and hammer, every center lever
and spring. every screw and pin must
undergo rigid inspection, and not un-
I'D al these have been ascertained 10 be
adjusted properly and the instrument
- found % be ia a perfscs condition ia
Il passed over 70 receive its fi7s1. ieolish
aud b. placed izssi-- z "a ,ss',5k
= fst~.- ssssllie- 1r7t
Represented 10 Magnolia ss0sss r +.