Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
MAY 15, 1926
41
The Technical and Supply Department—(Continued from page 28)
Traveling School of Danquard Player
Applying Decalcomania to
Action School Holds Sessions in Houston
Lacquered_Veneer Surface
Sessions in That City, Which Were Conducted Under the Direction of Milton L. Cheek, Highly
Successful—Sessions Also Held in New Orleans and in Birmingham
With Growing Popularity of Lacquered Fin-
ishes, Manufacturers Experience Difficulty in
This Direction
Suggestions as to the proper method of
applying a decalcomania transfer on a lacquered
veneer surface are set forth in an instructive
article in the current issue of Veneers, and
contain a number of points of interest to piano
builders and finishing foremen facing this prob-
lem. The article is written by an individual
signing the initials P. J. M. and follows below.
"With the advent of clear and colored
lacquers," he writes, "decalcomania transfers
are still being used, but many people have ex-
.perienced considerable trouble in applying them
in a satisfactory manner. Some people have
made the mistake of trying to use library paste,
glue, white shellac and similar mediums for
sticking the transfer to the work, with the re-
sult that when a coat of clear lacquer was ap-
plied over the transfer it was softened and
blistered up by the lacquer solvents.
"The proper method of applying a decalo-
mania transfer on lacquered work is first to bring
up the finish in the colored lacquer enamel or
in the clear lacquer to all but the last coat. This
is then sanded or rubbed smooth where extra-
smooth work is wanted, and the back of the
transfer is coated either with the cement which
is furnished by the manufacturer of the decal-
comania transfer or with a good grade of rub-
bing and polishing varnish which has been
thinned down considerably with turpentine.
"The transfer is allowed to stand for a few
moments after the varnish or cement has been
applied so that it begins to take on a slight
Danquard School Class in Houston
tack. Then it is placed in the proper position
of the country through the courtesy of the ton L. Cheek, who is in charge of the Southern on the work and smoothed out carefully, pref-
Standard Pneumatic Action Co. and Auto Pneu-
tour. The Danquard School was next in New erably by passing a soft rubber roll or a similar
matic Action Co., New York. Those attending Orleans, La. On May 10 it moved to Birming- instrument over it so as to insure of all air
bubbles and wrinkles being removed. Follow-
the sessions in Houston expressed their appre- ham, Ala., where sessions are being held.
ing this, the back of the transfer is soaked
thoroughly with water to soften up the paper
green wood. Changes in the moisture content and this paper is then carefully pulled away
of air-dry wood are attended by only relatively from the transfer. The excess moisture is
small changes in weight per cubic foot, owing wiped off and the design brought in closer con-
to the counter effect of change in volume as a tact with the work by patting the transfer
Forest Products Laboratory Issues Figures
result of the accompanying shrinkage or swell- lightly with a soft crumpled cloth after the
Covering Difference in Weight After Air Dry- ing. A practical rule for estimating the weight
paper has been removed.
ing
of air-dry or kiln-dry wood at a moisture con-
"Then take another soft piece of cloth, dipped
tent in the neighborhood of 12 per- cent is to
in turpentine or kerosene, and lightly go over
An interesting table showing comparative
regard a one-half of 1 per cent change in weight
the transfer around the edges to remove the ex-
weights of many woods used in the manufacture as accompanying a 1 per cent change in mois-
cess varnish or cement that is on the work.
of pianos has been compiled recently by the
ture content. For example, wood at 8 per cent
This should be done before the varnish or
Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis. The moisture content would weigh about 2 per cent
cement has time to thoroughly harden and
table is published under the heading, Technical
less than at 12 per cent, while at 14 per cent
dry. After the design is carefully cleaned up
Note No. 218, and makes particular reference
the weight would be about 1 per cent more than
in this manner, being careful not to disturb the
to the weights of the woods when green as com- at 12 per cent." That part of the table of par-
design or the transfer itself (which can easily
pared to weights when kiln-dried. The dry
ticular interest to piano builders is as follows:
be
done if care is taken), the work should be
Weight Per Cubic Foot
weights are for wood at a moisture content of
allowed to stand over night so that the cement
Air D r y -
12 per cent, which is approximately the condi-
Common Name
Green
12% M. C. or varnish can harden thoroughly.
The next
tion reached without artificial heating by lum- Ash, Biltmore, white
45
38
morning a coat of clear lacquer can be applied
ber sheltered from precipitation in the North
Ash, green
. 49
40
over the work to protect the transfer and to
Chestnut
55
30
Central States.
give a finished look to the work.
Maple, black
54
40
"All the data are based on the'weights'and vol-
Maple, red
50
38
"It is very necessary to make sure that the
umes, of small, clear specimens from the top Oak, California black
66
40
transfer is rolled down tight against the work,
four feet of sixteen-foot butt logs of typical Oak, black
63
43
free from all air bubbles at the time of applica-
Oak, chestnut
61
46
trees," the laboratory's note states. "Wood
tion, otherwise the lacquer will soften up the
Oak,
red
63
44
thus selected probably averages a trifle heavier
Oak, white
62
48
transfer in these spots and cause it to raise up
than the wood in ordinary structural timbers, Poplar, yellow
38
28
in small blisters, which will entirely spoil the
poles, posts and railway ties. Such pieces Redwood
54
30
effect."
Spruce, red
34
28
usually include the pith and are often taken
Spruce, Sitka
32
27
from top logs of low average density.
Spruce, white
34
27
"In any lot of lumber of a given species in
Walnut, Mexican
55
40
the air-dry condition at 12 per cent moisture
HOLLAND, MICH., May 11.—John Van Vyven,
the weight per cubic foot will rarely vary more
popular musician and entertainer, has pur-
than 10 per cent from the figure shown in the
chased the stock and fixtures of the Goodyke
table. In green material, on the other hand, the
BETHLEHEM, PA., May 10.—'Henry Hensinger, of
Music House in the Kantcrs Block and has re-
variation may occasionally be as great as 20 per
cent, owing to wide differences in moisture con- the Hensinger & Williams Music House, has opened for business. He is handling a full stock
announced that the name of the concern has of pianos, phonographs and other musical in-
tent.
"The greatest changes in weight are those been changed to the Hensinger Music House struments. Mr. Goodyke will retire from busi-
and will be operated at the same address.
ness in Holland.
which occur in the early stages of drying of
A N O T H E R successful visit, this one in Hous-
ton, Tex., has been completed by the Dan-
quard Player School, which offers free instruc-
tion to tuners and piano technicians in all parts
ciation of the efforts of the school, both collec-
tively and by personal letters to the supporting
companies. The sessions of the school in Hous-
ton were conducted under the direction of Mil-
Comparative Weights of
Green and Dry Lumber
Buys Goodyke Music House
Bethlehem Firm's New Name