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THE
AUGUST 10, 1918
INCREASED COST OF PIANO MAKING
Some Statistics of Unusual Interest Based on
Actual Invoices Covering Past Four Years
Compiled by Canadian Manufacturers
There have been many presentations of figures
to show the increases in the costs of the vari-
ous materials entering into piano manufacturing
—figures based upon statistics gathered from
various manufacturers and supply houses, and
collated in convenient form. We doubt, how-
ever, if the figures in the case of piano manu-
facturing has yet been set forth so ably as in
the "Gourlay News," the house magazine of
Gourlay, Winter & Leeming, Ltd., prominent
Canadian manufacturers, who have, through
comparing their own invoices, arranged a table
showing the actual percentage of increase in
the prices of materials entering into their pianos
during the four years from May 1, 1914, to
May 1, 1918, based upon the actual invoices
upon the quality standard associated with one
particular make of instrument.
The figures
are perhaps as exact as any that could be of-
fered, and from all accounts may be accepted
as showing approximately the increased cost of
piano manufacturing in the United States where
price advances have been comparable with those
made in Canada.
MUSIC
Locks
Lag Screws
Pedals
Bridge Pins
Punches
Casters
Key Leads
Glue-
Veneering Glue
Jointing Glue
Varnish
Shellac
Oils
Stains
Methylated Spirits
Coal
Packing Cases
TRADE
REVIEW
105%
125%
660%
166%
200%
160%
73%
160%
120%
30%
450%
125%
500%
125%
90%
115%
WHY VENEERED WORK BLISTERS
Some of the Reasons for Blisters Appearing in
Veneers—Good Gluing and D r y W o o d Impor-
tant—How Veneered W o r k Can Be Tested
The cause of blisters is loose veneer, but ve-
neer may be loose and not be blistered, owing
to the absence of conditions favorable to rais-
ing the loose veneer into a blister. Loose ve-
neer will raise in a blister only when it expands
and becomes too large for the spot it is intended
The list is as follows:
to cover.
If veneer is not well dried before
Lumber—
laying or has been allowed to absorb moisture
.Whitewood
88%
before going under pressure, it may be loose
Spruce
65%
and not show up in a blister for a long time,
Hardwoods
70% to 100% for this reason: The veneer, being moist, has
Veneers—
expanded, and after leaving the press it begins
Crossbanding
300%
to dry and shrink, which draws it tight and
Inside Case Veneers
300%
holds it down flat and tight to the core. In this
Outside Case Veneers
150%
condition it may leave the veneer room, go
Sounding Boards
90%
through the cabinet room, and finally land in
Plates
83%
the finishing room, with everybody thinking it
Actions
40%
is "in good condition."
Keys
40%
Veneer that is loose or not firmly glued to the
Hammers
20%
core, but which still lays close to the core, will
Tuning Pins
410%
successfully pass all the usual tests for blisters,
Music Wire
146%
such as tapping the surface with the tip of the
Covered Strings
55% to 73%
finger. If the veneer responds with a "click,"
Screws
100% to 200% we know it does not lay close to the core, and
Continuous Hinges
122%
we say it is blistered. But if there is no click
Butt Hinges
175%
in response to our tap, we say there is no
Bolts
310%
blister; but that does not furnish any proof
that the veneer is not loose. The proper test
RUBBER BELLOWS CLOTH OF EVERY DESCRIPTION
here is to moisten i the surface of the veneer
OUR SPECIALTIES
with water, and if it is loose it will at once raise
in a blister, which we can discover by sub-
mitting it again to the tapping test.
For Automatic Pianos and Piano-Players
But even the water test is not conclusive, and
L. J . MUTTY CO.
BOSTON, MASS.
offers no proof that, because blisters did not
Rubber Cloths and Tubing
41
HEED OUR
ADVICE!
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.F. GOEPEL&CO
137 E A S T I3 T ^ ST.
NtWYORK
show up, the work is "in good condition." It
is just possible that veneer may not be loose
enough to be raised into a blister with one test,
and yet be so near a complete separation from
the core that it will leave of its own accord in
a few weeks. This accounts for the fact that
in places where stock is sponged in the cab-
inet room before receiving the final sandpaper-
ing, blisters are yet found after the stock is
stained in the finishing room. It also accounts
for the further fact that blisters are frequently
found in goods that are varnished and ready
for rubbing, although careful tests were made
for blisters while the stock was in the staining
room.
There are a great many reasons why veneer
comes loose in places and finally results in blis-
ters, and it is up to the veneer men to exercise
vigilance in guarding against the causes, for
eternal vigilance is the price of good, reliable
veneered work.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Refer all inquiries to Dept. X
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.
Manufacturer* ot
Tuners' Trade
Solicited
PAPER, FELT AND CLOTH PUNCHINGS
BRIDLE STRAPS, FIBRE WASHERS AND BRIDGES
FOR PIANOS, ORGANS AND PLAYER ACTIONS
I le
r
pl
J.r d .nd P "?. ii.t
Office and Factory: 428 East 53d Street, New York
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
PIANO
ACTIONS
HIGHEST GRADE
ONE GRADE ONLY
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES—WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Avenue and West Forty-Sixth Street
NEW YORK
Behlen's Varnish Crack Eradicator
is not merely a new untried formula
but the result of years of careful
research and experimenting.
Scores of leading firms and individ-
uals specializing in the refinishing
of furniture, pianos, automobiles,
t etc, have tried it and continue to
use it.
Write for sample can today and try
it.
n.
Behlerx & Bro.
Anilines y ^ s , -Stains
Shellacs
371
^P"
Fillers
PEARL ST., NEW YORK
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
PLAYER-PIANOS
M o n , 1 i o « h , ^ n c «# i PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-
Manufacturers
of j HIGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, NEW YORK