Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-01-08
ART IN PIANO MAKING.
SIX YEARS ARE NECESSARY FOR
PERFECT CONSTRUCTION.

Great Care in All Stages of Manufacture
Is of vital Importance-Exquisit Skill
Is an Absolute Qualification in Every
Workman.
Few people are aware of the amount of
time and labor required reproduce piano.
From the time the first log is sawed in the
forest until the finishing touches and final
Dverhauling 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 Ego, and ever since that time
has been going through the various stages
of preparation and construction. One OF
the large manufacturers, when asked by
reporter as to the process of construction,
cheerfnlly 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
partially completed state. In the first
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
weather proof sheds, where it remains
from three to five years, according to
thickness, until it has become thoroughly
air dried.
POLISHING TIE 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 fin
ished piano While this is progressing in
the vanishing room other and importan5
work is being done on the interior Of the
piano. The sounding board, which is also
seasoned and 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 workmcn are intrusted
with the responsibility of this department..
Numerous mechanical and scientific ar
rangcments 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-
tons of the piano are of the most vital inn
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 failure. The
next stage reached is where the hammer,
KEYS aud actions are placed in their proper
positions in the frame, when the piano first
gives forth sound rs musical instru-
ment.
1.-THE principal object sought here is a
powerful blow of the hammer upon the
strings, to be produced by a light touch of
the performer. The workmen in this de-
partmcnt must have skill and experience,
for the delicate and costly materials and
mcchanisms they handle and place in pro-
per working positions make this branch
one Of great trust.
MANY DEPARTMENTS.
"In still another depart mcnt the carvers
are at work chiscling out legs and other
ornamental portions of the piano. These,
too, have to 90 through a course of sprouts
in the varnsh 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 have 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 do
partment from three to five weeks, and re-
ceives 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 back seat, and the highly
trained ear and musical skill of the artist
take the lead All sound is conveyed to
our sense of hearing by means of vibration
running in waves through the air.
1.-THE tone regulator must thoroughly
understand the laws which govern the
production of sound and tone. Uneven
aud irregular vibrations produce fahe and
discordant tones. On the other hand, even
and regular vibrations produce sweetness
of tone and harmony. 1t is Of vital i'm
portance to the piano manufacturer to I'M
derstund tho laws which govern the pro.
duction of the false as well 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 ard pin must undergo a rigid
inspection, and not until these have
beea asccrtainel to lie adjusted properly
and tho Instrument is found to be in per
feet condition is it passed over to receive
it's final polish and be placed in the ware
rocn."- brooklyn Eagle.