Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-06
Mt FREDERICK COUNTY MD, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY g. 1908
How Any Boy Can
Make q Grand PiartU
BY UNCLE NAT WHISPERS.
Author Of "Battleship Building For
Boys" Homemade Automo-

Author of "Battleship Building For
Boys" "Home-Made Automo-
biles." "A Motor-B Boat For q
Dollar and a Hail." Etc.
I Before I begin to tell how any
bright boy can make q grand piano
with which to surprise his sister on
her birthday, I must tell my readers
something that has pleased me very
much. For seventy years (or SOY I
have been writing these articles tell
ing boys how to make things with
simple tools, and last week heard on
good authority that boy in Wiscon-
sin had actually built from my direc-
tions canoe that would float for
long time on a quiet lake. He had
no tools save his jack-knife and what
he could find In his fathers shop (his
father was carpenter) and had no
assistance whatever except from his
father, and he did all this entirely in
his leisure hours when home from
college for his summer vacation. I
have always believed and stated that
my directions were entirely practical
BILE and It is very gratifying to find
that am right.
And now for our piano. Rosewood
should be chosen for the box or
"case" as 1t is called. 1t is harder
to cut than soft pine but more dura-
BILE. You may either bend the boards
to the desired shape by holding them
in the steam of a tea-kettle until
soft and then mailing them together
in much the same way as have de-
scribed in my directions for building
American Cup defenders, or, II you
have a sharp jack-knife you can OBJ
tain the rosewood in solid block
of the proper size and shape and exca.
vate the cavity for the wires by cut.
ting out the interior with your jack.
knife.
The case Is now finished and we
can begin to string the wires. Some
where near your home there Is sure
to be plenty of wire that you can
easily cut from the poles with your
jack-knife. Take care not to select
wire that is used to supply elec-
tricity for lighting purposes. Such
wire is unsuitable for pianos. II in
doubt as to any particular piece ask
a friend to climb the pole and give
the wire in question good hard
pull. II he cannot let go, 1t is an
electric light wire and you should
select another. (Another wire, that
is. but 1t may be also necessary to
select another friend.)
Now we may proceed to string your
piano. Fasten the ends of the wires
to nails driven firmly in with the
handle OF your jack-knife at the
further end Of your case. Stretch
them tightly over low bars nailed
crosswise, and fasten securely with
another nail at the front Now with
your jack-knife whittle out suffi.
cient quantity of the little things
called hammers" that strikes the
wires to produce the notes, and the
keys. These latter may be covered
with ivory II you have any on hand,
or may be scraped very smooth with
your jack-knife and painted white
and black. Any ingenious boy with
a jack-knife can easily contrive the
method of connecting the keys and
hammers so that when key is
touched the proper hammer will
strike the wire, SO will not take up
space to describe it in detail.
The piano is now finished with the
exception of the lid. legs and a few
other finishing touches To any boy
with a good jack-knife the carving Of
the legs will present no difficulty.
Only three are necessary, but these
must be glued very firmly at the cor.
ners. AS the lid Is usually opened
when the piano is played, 1t is not
really necessary and we may omit it.
Tune the piano by pulling on each
wire until 1t gives the proper note
when struck and then fastening 1t
securely. A coat or two of varnish
will complete a piano which any sis.
ter may we'll be proud to possess.
If you have taken pains to conceal
your work. carrying out all the chips
and shavings that fall from your
jack-knife, in your handkerchief to
some place away from the house
where she will not see them, she will
doubtless be as surprised as pleased.
Next week I shall tell you how to
make a moving picture machine or
"biograph," with which you may have
great fun.--J. w. M, in Puck.