10
PRESTO
KILN DRYING PROCESSES
IN PJANO PLANTS
Expert Gives Scientific Advice That May Be
Read with Interest by Piano Factory
Men.
The importance of drying lumber free from stresses
and strains is treated by J. F. Hirt, vice-president of
the Forest Products Engineering Co., Chicago, in an
interesting article for piano factory heads, in ? re-
cent number of the Hardwood Record. The article
says in part:
In the kiln drying of lumber it is considered im-
portant that the stock be dried so that it is free from
stresses and strains, and it is important. The trouble
is that not sufficient attention is being given to this
phase of the drying operation. As long as the lum-
ber tests dry and does not appear to be badly checked
or honey-combed, the run is generally considered to
have been a satisfactory one.
Such terms as internal strains and stresses and
case-hardening do not mean very much as they are
only relative ones. This will be more readily under-
stood when one considers that wood is seldom, if
ever, entirely free from stresses and strains of vary-
ing intensities, every change in atmospheric condi-
tions setting up tensions and strains. The same may
be said of case hardening for practically all lumber
that has been kiln dried comes out with more or less
case-harden'ng.
It might be well to give a little attention to the
internal strains which occur in wood, so that a clearer
idea of how to treat them may be gained. These
strains, which usually take the form of unequal com-
pression and tensional strains, are caused largely by
variations in the texture of the wood in various parts
of a piece, causing uneven swelling and shrinking at
every change of the moisture content or an uneven
Schumann
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
TRtDB MARK
This Trade Mark is can
In the plate and also ap-
pears upon the tall board
of all genuine Schumann
(Marios, and all infringe™
will b«? prosecuted. Beware
<>r imitations such as Schu-
mann A Company, Schu-
mann A Son. and also
Shuman.
as all Btencll
shops, dealers and uscr> ••
piHnon bearing a name In
Imitation
of
the
name
Schumann with the Inten-
tion 'if il^ctlving the public
«i!l he prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN lVfiATRE. President
Rocktord, 111.
distribution of the moisture itself. The fibers which
are dryest have shrunk most and are usually in a
state of tension, while those which contain the most
moisture are more expanded and are usually under
compression.
If the surface is drying faster than the center it is
shrinking faster, and as a consequence the surface
libers are under compression. If, on the other hand,
the surface is taking on moisture, the surface fibers
are swelling, which tendency is being resisted by the
inner fibers, and as a result the outer fibers are under
compression.
When case hardening is encountered during a run
it is best to relieve at once by submitting the stock
to a period of steaming. This condition could be
relieved at the end of the run by a final steaming
treatment, but as case hardening tends to retard the
rate of drying and thus prolong the drying period, it
should be relieved as soon as encountered. In the
first stages, or in the case of mild case hardening,
often all that is necessary is to raise the relative
humidity and hold it high for a short period.
The practice of steaming at the end of the run
should be followed wherever hardwoods are dried.
When this is done the lumber can be dried so as to
ensure an even distribution of moisture at the end of
the run., and the use of hot steam as a final treatment
softens the surface fibers, releasing the drying strains.
This point should not be overlooked. Heat is re-
quired to soften the fibers so that the strains are re-
leased, and this can he best accomplished by steam-
ing. Allowing the stock to stand in a cooling cham-
ber for a few days may result in a more or less even
distribution of the moisture content.
Undoubtedly
the moisture content w r ill equalize if given sufficient
time, but the unequal drying strain will still remain.
BRIEF RECORDS OF PIANO
DEALERS ACTIVITIES
Incidents in the Energetic Pursuit of the Prospec-
tive Buyer Told in Shoit Sentences.
Weisbrod's, Richmond. Ind., finds a spirited call for
the John Martin method instruction rolls for playing
the Gulbransen playerpiano.
Owosso, Mich . is now the headquarters of the
Shattrck Music House.
The Danz Piano Co. added another link to its
chain of stores in Orange and Los Angeles counties,
California, when a branch was opened in Downey
under the management of A. J. Mull.
Additional display parlors were recently added to
the Hcncock Music Co., 331 East Colorado street,
I'asadina. Ca'., by. the construction of a half-scory
above the present quarters.
The Long Music Horse, 15 W. Colorado street.
I asndctia. Calif., has completed extensive alterations
in Is store.
I. II. Hobbs. head of the Hobbs Music Co..
Wichita, Kans . recently completed very ambitious
P ;;ib tor the enlargement of his piano department.
Frank L. Horning, formerly of Boston, is the new
manager of the phonograph department of the Stix
I'aer & Fuller Co.. St. Louis. He succeeds F. J.
Ennis, who resigned owing to ill health.
Miss Catherine O. Hern has opened a music store
in the Hickey building. Warren, Pa.
The L. M. Pierce Co.., Springfield. Mass., has
added another store to its successful trio of estab-
lishments. In addition to the branches in Pittsiieid,
Mass., and Meriden, Conn., the firm has recently ac-
quired the retail store for some time conducted in
Hartford, Conn, by the Hallet & Davis Co., Boston
The transfer of ownership took place last week.
The Culver Art & Frame Co., 74 N. State street,
Westerville, O., has increased its showing of music
goods in its new building.
JESSE FRENCH & SONS
GRAND
An
A t t a i n m e n t
o f A r t
"Known the World Over'
STYLE G
Factories: New Castle, Indiana, U. S. A,
December 2, 1922.
STEGER AN ARTISTIC
PIANO, SAYS "SHOPPER
"Music and Happiness so Closely Associated as to
be Almost Synonymous," Ruth Lobdell Writes.
Seldom does a shop of any kind receive so high
commendation, or such well-written compliments in
the public press, as the Steger & Sons Piano Mfg.
Co., Chicago, received in the columns of "'The Shop-
per" in the Chicago Evening Post.
An entire section of the department written and
conducted by Ruth Lobdell. "The Shopper," in the
issue of the Post on November 23, was given over to
a description of the visit of the clever writer to the
Steger general office in the business district. The
article, as it appeared, is as follows:
Music and happiness are so associated with each
other as to be almost synonymous. You hear some
one singing, and "You must be happy today,'' you
say. Hence, also, the expression, "my heart sings."
Now, at this joyous season, we rejoice to give ex-
pression to our happiness in the most appropriate
way—that is, in music. What wonder that we all
love music. It speaks for us as nothing else will.
Now. those of us who delight in the best music
are satisfied only with musical instruments which
measure up to the highest artistic standard. We
want a piano which will fulfill our anticipation in
every respect. This piano, I have no hesitancy in
saying, is the Steger. One feels that he has achieved
his musical ideal when he is privileged to hear or to
play upon it. The action is so sympathetically re-
sponsive, the tone so beautiful, shading readily from
the greatest delicacy to deep, singing reasonance,
that it is an "open sesame" to all the music stored
in the musician's soul. And the student finds the
Steger an equal source of inspiration and pleasure.
When we consider the high quality of the Steger,
the price is amazingly low. It's more than a piano—
it's really a lifetime investment. This is what Steger
owners are unanimous in declaring. A tribute, isn't
it? And I understand that convenient terms may be
arranged, if one so desires, at the Steger building,
Jackson boulevard and Wabash avenue.
FOREIGN TRADE GOOD.
The foreign orders for pianos manufactured by the
Gulbransen-Dickinsou Company, Chicago, are re-
maining strong, but the company cannot devote so
much time to this business as it would like, because
of the heavy demands from the dealers of the United
States. The electric reproducing niano is proving
one of the best Gulbransen sellers among foreign
dealers. Recent orders shipped include a shipmnt to
Hongkong, China, three players to Amsterdam, Hol-
land, and two to South Africa.
COLORADO DEALER.
E. A. Cox. of Denver, Colorado, was a caller at
wholesale offices in Chicago last week. Mr. Cox is
president and manager of the Denver Music Com-
pany, one of the most important concerns of that
citv.
HIGH GRADE
Folding Organs
School Organs
Practice Keyboards
Dealers' Attention Solicited
A. L. WHITE MFG. CO.
215 Englewood Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Grands. Uprights and Players
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that san be
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Player Pianos
A high grade piano of great
vaiue and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprights and Player Piano*
A popular piano at a popular price.
Over 70.000 instruments made by this company art sinn-
ing their own praises in all parts of the civilized world.
Write tor catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will mulct you a proposition if »i o are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Inc.
Factory: YORK.
Established 1870
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