The Sub-Assembly Room, where the sound-
ing boards and strings are installed. Each
operator performs a specific task and is
trained to be a specialist in his work.
The Final Assembly Department. After the
keyboards, hammers and other action parts are
installed, the completed pianos are oiled, pol-
ished and inspected carefully before shipment.
held there under pressure until the glue is dry. We shall
see more of these panels later, but now we are entering the
room where the veneered sctions are made.
Here sheets of walnut or mahogany, about one-sixteenth
of an inch thick, are dried and cut to the desired sizes, with
the grains carefully matched before the pieces are passed
through rollers coated with vegetable glue. Veneering is
an interesting operation. First, a sheet of veneer, glue-coated
on one side, is laid on a flat table. Next a crossbanding
sheet, glue-coated on both sides is laid on top so that the
grain of the wood runs at a 90° angle from that of the first
sheet. Over this is placed the center core of poplar wood,
followed by two more veneer sheets also glue-coated and
laid down as explained before. Thus, five layers of wood
and veneer are used, and a number of panels are placed
in a hydraulic press and kept under pressure for twenty-
four hours, whereupon the wood panels are again air dried.
This method of lamination insures added strength and pre-
vents warping and splitting.
Further along we watch skillful craftsmen shape piano
legs, cut out trim moulding, and form and shape the many
parts required in building pianos. And now we come to
the Cabinet Assembly Department where the parts are
fitted together in knock-down form. Here we pause a mo-
ment to watch an operator apply a mixture of glue and
water to veneered and face parts. "Why?" we ask. Our
guide explains that this is done to harden the soft grains
of the veneer; otherwise, they would absorb a large portion
of the finishes which are to be applied later. "Gluesizing,"
he adds, "also insures a smoother surface and a better finish."
Eventually, we come to the Finishing Department. Here,
the wood is stained with Avater or oil to give it the desired
color, brushed with a filler, which is worked well into the
pores of the wood to provide a level surface, and then a
[ P A G E
hike this earnest youth seatnl Li\m<. a con-
sole model, people of all ages find enjoyment
in playing the piano, which is an ideal
musical instrument for the home.
primer coat is applied to seal the pores. When dry, each
piece is scuffed lightly with fine grit sandpaper. Following
this a skilled spray operator applies the final finishing coats
of Clear "Duco" Piano Lacquer which imparts a smooth,
hard film accentuating the grain design and thus enhancing
the beauty of the wood.
Proceeding to the Sub-Assembly Department we observe
the construction of the most important part of the piano,
the sounding board, and how the wire strings are attached.
The board is made of the finest Adirondack spruce, for on
its vibrating properties tone quality largely depends. The
finest materials and careful craftsmanship are combined
in making and assembling these essential parts. We note
that a thin layer of maple wood is laminated to the board
before the harp-shaped, cast-iron plate with projecting pegs
is mounted on it. To these pegs will be attached the strings.
And the "plunk, plunk" sounds of musical tones originat-
ing further down the line indicate that some completed
assemblies are receiving a preliminary tuning.
Moving along to the Final Assembly Department we
again see the wood parts previously described. They are
now being assembled and glued together forming the cabi-
nets. Keyboards, playing hammers, pedals and other action
parts are installed by skillful operators. Incidentally, we
are told that the keyboards and piano actions are made by
concerns who specialize in this work, and that there are only
two independent piano key manufacturers in the United
States. "Black keys," says our guide, "are usually made of
ebony or other hardwoods; the white keys are faced with ivory
or with 'Pyralin' plastic sheeting." We proceed to another
section where pianos, fully assembled, are rubbed and pol-
ished with du Pont rubbing compounds to impart a high-
gloss finish, then oiled to remove dust and dirt. After a
rigid inspection, the instruments are ready to be packed
and shipped.
T E N ]
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