Music Trade Review
Issue: 1914 Vol. 59 N. 11 - Page 45
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
45
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
dering on the line of the agraffe called forth ex-
pressions of wonder and gratification from all
Science Comes to the Aid of Art and Provides a Medium for a Fuller Expression of the Latter's
builders of that period. The shortest plain steel
Ideals—American Piano Wire Came in Response to the Demand of "The Father of Ameri-
wire was 2% inches in length; the longest plain
can Pianoforte Makers"—Collaborative Achievements in Piano Construction.
steel wire, 4 5 ^ inches; the shortest wound string,
46%
inches and the longest wound string, 59
(.Courtesy, American Piano Wire and Pipe Organ Nezvs.
Copyright.)
It was at the instance of Jonas Chickering that the new deflection of the strings by which added inches. The instrument is six octaves in compass,
the manufacture of music wire was first under- resistance was given to the frame. In 1845 he 73 keys, from "F" to "F." With the exception of
taken by the Worcester mill of the American Steel
evolved the first practical method of over-stringing the first, all spun strings are wrapped from loop
& Wire Co. in 1850. This wire was used in all his for square pianos and in 1849 he applied this prin- to tuning pins, the wrapped portions extending
over bridge, plate and frame bearings.
instruments and proved a vital factor in the suc- ciple to his uprights. This enlarged and improved
The construction of a square piano combining
cess achieved by the "Father of American Piano- scale met the mechanical needs, but Jonas Chick-
the overstrung scale with metal
plate in one casting, was begun
by Jonas Chickering in 1853 and
later finished by his sons. (The
overstrung scale had been in-
vented by Theobald Roehm in
1835.) This improvement then
opened the way for wider com-
pass and greater volume, and,
w it h t h e introduction o f
agraffes,
improved
sounding
board construction and added
bracing, the Chickering piano be-
came at once the center of study
among the piano makers of the
country and Europe, and the
ideas contained have been copied
repeatedly from that day to this.
From 1850 to 1875, when the
square piano was at the~ height
of its popularity, such changes
in length, weight and tension of
wires, as the development of
Fig. 16. Chickering straight scale square piano No. 18,982, strung, sixty years ago, with American Steel & Wire
t o n a l resources necessitated,
Company's wire, still in use and no strings broken.
were well proportioned through
Longest wound string, 59"; shortest wound string, 46.25"; longest plain steel wire, 45.2"; shortest plain steel wire, 2.12". Gages—1 No. 12, C the combined efforts of the
No. 13, 14 No. 14, 28 No. 15, 33 No. 16, 40 No. 17, 45 No. 18, 50 No. 20, 53 to 58 inclusive, No. 21. Compass 73 keys, from F to F.
Chickerings and the Worcester
Now in the Industrial Museum of the American Steel &• Wire Company.
forte Makers" and his worthy successors. From
ering's tonal requirements demanded a wire of mill experts. While many other piano manufacturers
the time he built his first piano in 1823, his pro- greater uniformity, less hard and more tenacious in this country and Europe were exerting every
than could be obtained at that time in the open effort to equal or excel the Chickering standard
gressiveness and indomitable energy were evidenced
markets of the world. This demand at once was of tone, their task became one of emulation rather
in the numerous innovations making for nicety in
than creation, and it is a fact, freely acknowledged
interior workmanship, purity and limpidity of tone, met by the Worcester mill.
by
the builders and laymen, that from 1850 to
The photograph Fig. 16 shows the scale of one
and the quality of richness and soundness of con-
1875
the Chickering square piano was considered,
of the square pianos of that period. The solid
struction for which the American piano has been
known ever since. He gave to the American piano metal braces first used by James Broadwood in tonally and mechanically, the best piano made.
During all this period of evolution the product
a wider compass and developed its tonal resources. 1827 are shown here cast in one piece with the
plate. The designing of this plate in such form as of the American Steel & Wire Co. was used in
In 1837 he made the first grand piano with full
iron frame in a single casting. In 1843 he patented to overcome the tendency to disrupt that part bor- all the Chickering pianos. One proof of the wis-
dom of this choice is evidenced in the example
here shown. After sixty years' continuous use not
one of the original strings has been broken.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT AMERICAN INDUSTRY.
WORK BENCHES
Model "B," 75 in. long; 24 in. wide ; 33
in. high; weight 190 lbs.
We have for years marketed
high grade Benches. The
timber is carefully selected
and allowed to season for
months and we do not intend
any better Benches shall be
made.
We offer our Model " B "
as illustration as an all around
practical Bench for shop use.
OurCatalog No.32l2shows
23 distinct styles and will be
sent upon request.
HAMMACHER, SCHLEMMER & CO.
PIANO MATERIALS AND TOOLS
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Ave. and 13th St.
TABLE O F GAGE, DIAMETER AXD W E I G H T
Showing gage, diameter in decimals of inch and weight in
grains per inch of American piano wire.
Gage. Diameter. Weight, grs. Gage. Diameter. Weight, grs.
16
11
.026
1.0649
.037
2.17565
11'/,
.0275
1.1723
lfi'/i
.O3S
2.2719
17
12
.o-?9
1.3530
.039
2.3809
030
12 y 2
1.4911
.040
2.4783
nyi
18
13
.031
1.5125
.041
2.6075
19
.032
13'/^
] .5860
.043
2.7963
20
14
.033
1.7143
.045
3.1645
21
14'/,
.034
1.8168
.047
3.4259
15
22
.035
1.9351
.049
3.78025
15!/.
.030
2.0198
ALBERT A. McCARTY
Manufacturer of
PIANO BASS STRINGS
3 6 BEACH STREET
BOSTON, MASS.
DUPLICATING
A SPECIALTY
Richardson Piano Case Co.
Manufacturers of
Upright-
Grand—
Player—
Piano Cases
Established 1891
LEOMINSTER
::
:
MASS.
45
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
dering on the line of the agraffe called forth ex-
pressions of wonder and gratification from all
Science Comes to the Aid of Art and Provides a Medium for a Fuller Expression of the Latter's
builders of that period. The shortest plain steel
Ideals—American Piano Wire Came in Response to the Demand of "The Father of Ameri-
wire was 2% inches in length; the longest plain
can Pianoforte Makers"—Collaborative Achievements in Piano Construction.
steel wire, 4 5 ^ inches; the shortest wound string,
46%
inches and the longest wound string, 59
(.Courtesy, American Piano Wire and Pipe Organ Nezvs.
Copyright.)
It was at the instance of Jonas Chickering that the new deflection of the strings by which added inches. The instrument is six octaves in compass,
the manufacture of music wire was first under- resistance was given to the frame. In 1845 he 73 keys, from "F" to "F." With the exception of
taken by the Worcester mill of the American Steel
evolved the first practical method of over-stringing the first, all spun strings are wrapped from loop
& Wire Co. in 1850. This wire was used in all his for square pianos and in 1849 he applied this prin- to tuning pins, the wrapped portions extending
over bridge, plate and frame bearings.
instruments and proved a vital factor in the suc- ciple to his uprights. This enlarged and improved
The construction of a square piano combining
cess achieved by the "Father of American Piano- scale met the mechanical needs, but Jonas Chick-
the overstrung scale with metal
plate in one casting, was begun
by Jonas Chickering in 1853 and
later finished by his sons. (The
overstrung scale had been in-
vented by Theobald Roehm in
1835.) This improvement then
opened the way for wider com-
pass and greater volume, and,
w it h t h e introduction o f
agraffes,
improved
sounding
board construction and added
bracing, the Chickering piano be-
came at once the center of study
among the piano makers of the
country and Europe, and the
ideas contained have been copied
repeatedly from that day to this.
From 1850 to 1875, when the
square piano was at the~ height
of its popularity, such changes
in length, weight and tension of
wires, as the development of
Fig. 16. Chickering straight scale square piano No. 18,982, strung, sixty years ago, with American Steel & Wire
t o n a l resources necessitated,
Company's wire, still in use and no strings broken.
were well proportioned through
Longest wound string, 59"; shortest wound string, 46.25"; longest plain steel wire, 45.2"; shortest plain steel wire, 2.12". Gages—1 No. 12, C the combined efforts of the
No. 13, 14 No. 14, 28 No. 15, 33 No. 16, 40 No. 17, 45 No. 18, 50 No. 20, 53 to 58 inclusive, No. 21. Compass 73 keys, from F to F.
Chickerings and the Worcester
Now in the Industrial Museum of the American Steel &• Wire Company.
forte Makers" and his worthy successors. From
ering's tonal requirements demanded a wire of mill experts. While many other piano manufacturers
the time he built his first piano in 1823, his pro- greater uniformity, less hard and more tenacious in this country and Europe were exerting every
than could be obtained at that time in the open effort to equal or excel the Chickering standard
gressiveness and indomitable energy were evidenced
markets of the world. This demand at once was of tone, their task became one of emulation rather
in the numerous innovations making for nicety in
than creation, and it is a fact, freely acknowledged
interior workmanship, purity and limpidity of tone, met by the Worcester mill.
by
the builders and laymen, that from 1850 to
The photograph Fig. 16 shows the scale of one
and the quality of richness and soundness of con-
1875
the Chickering square piano was considered,
of the square pianos of that period. The solid
struction for which the American piano has been
known ever since. He gave to the American piano metal braces first used by James Broadwood in tonally and mechanically, the best piano made.
During all this period of evolution the product
a wider compass and developed its tonal resources. 1827 are shown here cast in one piece with the
plate. The designing of this plate in such form as of the American Steel & Wire Co. was used in
In 1837 he made the first grand piano with full
iron frame in a single casting. In 1843 he patented to overcome the tendency to disrupt that part bor- all the Chickering pianos. One proof of the wis-
dom of this choice is evidenced in the example
here shown. After sixty years' continuous use not
one of the original strings has been broken.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT AMERICAN INDUSTRY.
WORK BENCHES
Model "B," 75 in. long; 24 in. wide ; 33
in. high; weight 190 lbs.
We have for years marketed
high grade Benches. The
timber is carefully selected
and allowed to season for
months and we do not intend
any better Benches shall be
made.
We offer our Model " B "
as illustration as an all around
practical Bench for shop use.
OurCatalog No.32l2shows
23 distinct styles and will be
sent upon request.
HAMMACHER, SCHLEMMER & CO.
PIANO MATERIALS AND TOOLS
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Ave. and 13th St.
TABLE O F GAGE, DIAMETER AXD W E I G H T
Showing gage, diameter in decimals of inch and weight in
grains per inch of American piano wire.
Gage. Diameter. Weight, grs. Gage. Diameter. Weight, grs.
16
11
.026
1.0649
.037
2.17565
11'/,
.0275
1.1723
lfi'/i
.O3S
2.2719
17
12
.o-?9
1.3530
.039
2.3809
030
12 y 2
1.4911
.040
2.4783
nyi
18
13
.031
1.5125
.041
2.6075
19
.032
13'/^
] .5860
.043
2.7963
20
14
.033
1.7143
.045
3.1645
21
14'/,
.034
1.8168
.047
3.4259
15
22
.035
1.9351
.049
3.78025
15!/.
.030
2.0198
ALBERT A. McCARTY
Manufacturer of
PIANO BASS STRINGS
3 6 BEACH STREET
BOSTON, MASS.
DUPLICATING
A SPECIALTY
Richardson Piano Case Co.
Manufacturers of
Upright-
Grand—
Player—
Piano Cases
Established 1891
LEOMINSTER
::
:
MASS.
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