Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21
MOTH -rEATEN PIANOS
How the Ravenous Little Pests Iniure Fine
y -
INSTRUMENTS.
An Expert Tuner Gives a Few Points
Well Worth Remembering
by Musicians.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
This Is moth-eateu piano, madam"
remarked piano tuner, after running his
ringers nfmbly- over the keyboard of an
expensive instrument which well-known
lady amateur pianist of this city had re-
Quested the expert to call and examine.
The piano, at which the tuner stood, had
only been purchased last spring, and. much
to the annoyance of the owner, had recent
ly developed series of wheezy, rafting
responses to her touch on several keys.
"A moth-eaten piano! Who ever heard
Of such a thing9' exclaimed the fair own
er, incredulously,
pianos are common" replied the tuner. 4
overhauled over twenty such instruments
last week. Indeed, there is nothing moths
like better than to revel In the interior Of
piano. where soft cloth Is used to no
small degree in the delicate mechanism
and makeup of the instrument. The cloth
is placed wherever there Is liability of con-
tact between any Of the numerous movable
portions of the instrument, in order to
avoid the rafting noise that would other
wise result from such contact 1t Is on this
cloth that the moths delight to feed, and
the ravenous little pests are not long in
eating the material away from some i'm
portant spot, and bringing about the re-
suit the cloth was put there to prevent.
your piano."
The tuner opened the instrument, I'M
covered its maze Of strings and pins, and
its rows of delicate hammers Several tiny
heaps of white dust were discovered be-
meath where the moths had eaten the cloth
away.
"Ah," said the tuner, Il thought as much!
The damage Is, however, slight, and easily
repaired; and now that you know the moths
are there they be quickly extermInated-
The best and most simple way to keep
moths out of a piano is to dust 1t thorough
ly inside with soft feather buster not less
than once week. Then If the instrument
Is placed in q well-lighted room. when not
in use, during the summer months, moths
will not enter, or stay in the interior long
enough to do any harm. Your piano Is
somewhat out of tune, l see, madam
"Impossible!' exclaimed the owner. 1T
has been in use but four months. and
good piano should certainly remain in tune
year"
"A common error among non-professional
players, replied the tuner. 1T is really
surprising to note the ignorance that pre-
walls in regard to this popular instrument.
The principal object of the best piano.
makers Is to have their Instruments stand
In tune WELL Unless they succeed in that
the quality of tone or beauty of finish they
fmpart to them will be OF only superficial
value. But even pianos bearing the names
OF the most famous makers are disappoint-
ing In this important respect. There are
good reasons for it. Look for moment
at the way the musical part of a piano is
made.
THE steel pins that hold the wires are
driven into a solid block of wood. and in
order that this wood may retain a firm hold
OF the pins and yet admit OF them being
turned by the tuners hammer, not only are
great care and Skill necessary in the fitting
of them. but 1t is absolutely requisite that
the wood should be OF the very best season
ed material. III
Outdoor seasoning is the only method
by which this wd6d may be perfectly
cured, no matter what the kiln driers say
to the contrary. Outdoor seasoning re-
quires long time.Y and the keeping on
hand Of immense stocks by the nanufac-
turer representing an investment Of thou
sands and thousands of dollars.
There are not many manufacturers who
can afford 10. keep SO much capital lying
idle. and they area Obliged. even If they
preferred to do otherwise, to use the kiln
dried wood fP.their' pianos. The artificial
heat In parlors especially If it is hot air
IRON from furnace acts disastrously upon the
kiln-dried pin board. and no piano con-
tanning. one can be made to stay in tune
after three years. use Because the wood
shrinks graddaHy ana the pins move in
the block from every hard blow of the
hammers on'the wires.
las to the action Of furnace heat on
pianos Il Injuries even those of the best
makers. 1t warpsi the Keys, loosens the
in the wood ard causes the keys to stick,
or rattle, thus sadly affecting the action
Of the instrument. A piano should be kept
away from the direct influence OF furnace
heat as much as possible
"In spite of the efforts of the various
makers have yet to see one piano in one
hundred that with ordinary parlor use will
stand in tune more than two months An
unskilled musical ear, 1t Is true, will fail
to detect any important discord in a piano
for six months or perhaps longer, but 10
cultivated ear can tolerate the discordant
notes that the best plano will insist upon
giving out after two months use. When
you think that the steel wires and iron
frames are alternately contracting and ex-
panding under the, variations of the sur
rounding atmosphere. giving a constant
movement Of the wires and a consequent
change in the pitch and tone of the instru-
ment. the impossfbility of piano MAIN
tanning a perfect tone for any length of
time must be at once apparent land IL you
will but reflect on the surprising fact that
the tension of the strings of a piano causes
strain on the body Of the instrument
equal to the weight of 10000 pounds you
will doubtless agree with me that a piano
that will remain in perfect tune for a year
Is an instrument that must necessarily be
one of extreme rarity. If not one impos-
sible tn make.
"A piano. good. bad or Indifferent, when
new, should be tuned once a month The
longer an instrument remains untuned the
lower it's pitch of tone becomes and when
1t is desired to have the piano drawn to
concert pitch the strain on the body of
the instrument is greatly increased, SO
much, in fact, that the case is liable to
yield gradually. necessitating second tun-
ing in week or two after.''
Best Way.