Music Trade Review
Issue: 1915 Vol. 60 N. 17 - Page 70
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
68
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CRACKING AND SHRINKING.
A Subject of Interest to Varnish Men in the
Piano Trade Discussed.
One of the several interesting articles in the lat-
est issue of "The Finishing Touch," published by
the Murphy Varnish Co., is that on "Cracking and
Shrinking," which is of interest to factory men in
the piano trade. It reads as follows :
"Just a word of explanation and caution in re-
gard to cracking and shrinking. Especially through
the winter months and changing seasons, every
varnish manufacturer receives complaints of these
troubles. There are many causes for them, the
principal ones being artificial heat, sudden or ex-
treme changes in temperature, improperly con-
ducted drying kilns, the use of stains and glazes
containing aniline colors, overcoating of varnish,
careless rubbing down by piece workers, veneers
and glue.
"The varnish maker cannot make his product im-
mune to all these conditions. The customer must
watch the sanitation of his own camp.
"Shrinking usually occurs in one form, but
cracking presents varied phases which suggest their
causes.
"There is but one consistent crack, that caused
by the expansion and contraction of the wood
coated with the harder rubbing and polishing var-
nishes. This is the fine hair line, like cracks in
glare strong ice, and runs directly across the grain.
"The crack caused by a soft condition under-
neath is of characteristic shape. These run in no
definite direction witli respect to the grain of the
wood, often showing in long, straight lines com-
bined with long, curved sweeps. These cracks,
carefully observed, show a concave section and a
double edge.
"Soft undercoats are caused by undried filler, the
greasy nature of oil soluble aniline colors, over-
coating of varnish, and 'case hardened' surfaces in
kiln drying.
"Cracks caused by glue in veneers present fea-
tures of both temperature and soft undercoat
stains, but seldom run uniformly across the grain.
"Shrinkage is caused by moisture in the wood or
glue, and by the same conditions which cause the
soft undercoat crack. In the latter case a hard
gum polishing varnish will crack, while a more
elastic varnish will sink in.
"To supply the demand for highly iigured wood,
veneers are dangerously thin at the present time,
and consequently more or less glue is exposed. The
latter always contains moisture, and as the finished
work dries out it discharges thii= and, contracting,
retires into the pores of the wood. If the varnish
is elastic, it follows it. If it is a hard gum var-
nish, it is separated from the glue surface, when
the chances of cracking are greatly enhanced."
SEARCHING FOR IDEAL GLUE.
Glue Men Have to Face Many Problems Both
in Manufacturing and Using That Important
Product—Requirements of Ideal Glue.
The glue men, both the users and the manufac-
turers of glue, have perhaps, from time to time, had
a dream of the ideal glue. In this ideal glue there
is freedom from objectionable odors, there is a
glue that will be uniform and dependable all the
time and one that can perhaps be mixed with wa-
ter or made to How readily by some means not
yet devised, and after it has once set or hardened
will not be susceptible to softening by the applica-
tion of moisture or heat. In other words, a glue
that when once set will not turn loose or give way
under any of the agency influences ordinarily
brought into play.
In a way this may sound like an impossible
dream, 'but it is not, and, moreover, we are mak-
ing progress toward this ideal right along. There
is no line of work in connection with veneering in
which more wonderful progress has been made in
the past decade than in the manufacture and use
of glue. It is evident, too, that we are just begin-
ning this development instead of being through
with it, and that some day the glue man's dream
will be realized—maybe not in exactly the form it
has been conceived, but with substantially all the
points desired.
There is really nothing impossible, for example,
in the idea of having a glue mixture that can be
made fluid with water, and yet will be proof
against the action of water afterward. We have
this very thing in connection with the use of lime
and cement. They are softened and made pliant
for use by the application of water, and the same
agent hardens them by a process of crystallization
until they are water-resisting themselves. Of course
there is a wide difference between both the action
and use of lime and cement and glue, but when one
considers what is being done and what is going
on all around us, it seems futile to speak of im-
possibilities in connection with development in the
manufacture and use of glue. Anyway, we are
getting nearer to the glue man's dream every year
and making the work of the glue room more satis-
factory and dependable right along, and often at
lower cost.
IMPROVEDJMANO ACTION.
(Special to The Weview.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, April id.—Enoch A. Mayor,
San Antonio, Tex., was last week granted patent
Xo. 1,135,386 for a piano action, which relates par-
ticularly to that part of the action which controls
the rebound of the hammer and includes the back
stop, the back check, bridle strap and the support-
ing members therefor.
The primary object of this invention is to sim-
plify this part of the piano, reduce the number of
parts involved therein and increase the valuable
space within the piano case so that other
mechanisms may be placed within this space and
not incommode the action itself, thus adapting the
device particularly to player-pianos,
THE COMSTOCK. CHENEY * CO., IVORYTON, CONN.
= MANUFACTURERS =
Piano-forte Ivory Keys, Actions and Hammers,
Ivory and Composition Covered Organ Keys
HBINRV HAAS & SOIN
PLAYER1PARTS REPAIR MATERIAL
WASLE PIANO ACTIONS
Combination 65&.S8note Tracker-bar
Are noted for their elasticity, responsiveness and durability. They satisfy in all cases.
with Shifting device
Lon
V
Connection
Short'Y'
Connection
W A S L E
& C O . , Brown Place and Southern Boulevard, NEW YORK
ALL STEEL TRAP WORK
Simple, Silent, Strong
T
Continuous Hinge*, Bearing Bar*, Padala, Casters
•T
Uif
CHAS. RAMSEY CO.
Connection Connection
We are now located at our new factory, Kingston, N.Y.
Manufacturers of Player and Piano Hardware
and Metal Specialties
1907-1911 PARK AVENUE
THE STANDARD CO.
NEW YORK
TORRINGTON,
CONN.
Established 1853
SYLVESTER TOWER CO.
11 Grand and Upright Piano-forte Actions
Towers Above
All Others
Keys, Actions, Hammers, Brackets and Nickel Rail Furnished Complete
131 to 147 Broadway
Manufacturer* of a
Com plate Line of Piano Aotlon Hardware
Brass Flanges, Damper Rods, Special Capstan
Screws, Bracket and Ball Bolts, Key Fins,
Regelating Brackets and Specialties.
CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASS.
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
The Homer D. Bronson Co.
Manufacture and Sell Direct
PIANO HINGES—DESK HANGERS -
FRONT FRAME CATCHES—KNIFE
HINGES—BUTTS and SPECIALTIES
Write for Quotations
THE HOMER D. BRONSON GO.
BEACON FALLS, CONN.
PIANO
ACTIONS
HIGHEST
ONE GRADE ONLY!
GRADE
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES-WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Avenue and West Forty-Sixth St.
NEW YORK
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
M
,
t .
PLAYER-PIANOS
j PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-
Manufacturers or \ H I G H
G RADE
PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, HEW YORK
68
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CRACKING AND SHRINKING.
A Subject of Interest to Varnish Men in the
Piano Trade Discussed.
One of the several interesting articles in the lat-
est issue of "The Finishing Touch," published by
the Murphy Varnish Co., is that on "Cracking and
Shrinking," which is of interest to factory men in
the piano trade. It reads as follows :
"Just a word of explanation and caution in re-
gard to cracking and shrinking. Especially through
the winter months and changing seasons, every
varnish manufacturer receives complaints of these
troubles. There are many causes for them, the
principal ones being artificial heat, sudden or ex-
treme changes in temperature, improperly con-
ducted drying kilns, the use of stains and glazes
containing aniline colors, overcoating of varnish,
careless rubbing down by piece workers, veneers
and glue.
"The varnish maker cannot make his product im-
mune to all these conditions. The customer must
watch the sanitation of his own camp.
"Shrinking usually occurs in one form, but
cracking presents varied phases which suggest their
causes.
"There is but one consistent crack, that caused
by the expansion and contraction of the wood
coated with the harder rubbing and polishing var-
nishes. This is the fine hair line, like cracks in
glare strong ice, and runs directly across the grain.
"The crack caused by a soft condition under-
neath is of characteristic shape. These run in no
definite direction witli respect to the grain of the
wood, often showing in long, straight lines com-
bined with long, curved sweeps. These cracks,
carefully observed, show a concave section and a
double edge.
"Soft undercoats are caused by undried filler, the
greasy nature of oil soluble aniline colors, over-
coating of varnish, and 'case hardened' surfaces in
kiln drying.
"Cracks caused by glue in veneers present fea-
tures of both temperature and soft undercoat
stains, but seldom run uniformly across the grain.
"Shrinkage is caused by moisture in the wood or
glue, and by the same conditions which cause the
soft undercoat crack. In the latter case a hard
gum polishing varnish will crack, while a more
elastic varnish will sink in.
"To supply the demand for highly iigured wood,
veneers are dangerously thin at the present time,
and consequently more or less glue is exposed. The
latter always contains moisture, and as the finished
work dries out it discharges thii= and, contracting,
retires into the pores of the wood. If the varnish
is elastic, it follows it. If it is a hard gum var-
nish, it is separated from the glue surface, when
the chances of cracking are greatly enhanced."
SEARCHING FOR IDEAL GLUE.
Glue Men Have to Face Many Problems Both
in Manufacturing and Using That Important
Product—Requirements of Ideal Glue.
The glue men, both the users and the manufac-
turers of glue, have perhaps, from time to time, had
a dream of the ideal glue. In this ideal glue there
is freedom from objectionable odors, there is a
glue that will be uniform and dependable all the
time and one that can perhaps be mixed with wa-
ter or made to How readily by some means not
yet devised, and after it has once set or hardened
will not be susceptible to softening by the applica-
tion of moisture or heat. In other words, a glue
that when once set will not turn loose or give way
under any of the agency influences ordinarily
brought into play.
In a way this may sound like an impossible
dream, 'but it is not, and, moreover, we are mak-
ing progress toward this ideal right along. There
is no line of work in connection with veneering in
which more wonderful progress has been made in
the past decade than in the manufacture and use
of glue. It is evident, too, that we are just begin-
ning this development instead of being through
with it, and that some day the glue man's dream
will be realized—maybe not in exactly the form it
has been conceived, but with substantially all the
points desired.
There is really nothing impossible, for example,
in the idea of having a glue mixture that can be
made fluid with water, and yet will be proof
against the action of water afterward. We have
this very thing in connection with the use of lime
and cement. They are softened and made pliant
for use by the application of water, and the same
agent hardens them by a process of crystallization
until they are water-resisting themselves. Of course
there is a wide difference between both the action
and use of lime and cement and glue, but when one
considers what is being done and what is going
on all around us, it seems futile to speak of im-
possibilities in connection with development in the
manufacture and use of glue. Anyway, we are
getting nearer to the glue man's dream every year
and making the work of the glue room more satis-
factory and dependable right along, and often at
lower cost.
IMPROVEDJMANO ACTION.
(Special to The Weview.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, April id.—Enoch A. Mayor,
San Antonio, Tex., was last week granted patent
Xo. 1,135,386 for a piano action, which relates par-
ticularly to that part of the action which controls
the rebound of the hammer and includes the back
stop, the back check, bridle strap and the support-
ing members therefor.
The primary object of this invention is to sim-
plify this part of the piano, reduce the number of
parts involved therein and increase the valuable
space within the piano case so that other
mechanisms may be placed within this space and
not incommode the action itself, thus adapting the
device particularly to player-pianos,
THE COMSTOCK. CHENEY * CO., IVORYTON, CONN.
= MANUFACTURERS =
Piano-forte Ivory Keys, Actions and Hammers,
Ivory and Composition Covered Organ Keys
HBINRV HAAS & SOIN
PLAYER1PARTS REPAIR MATERIAL
WASLE PIANO ACTIONS
Combination 65&.S8note Tracker-bar
Are noted for their elasticity, responsiveness and durability. They satisfy in all cases.
with Shifting device
Lon
V
Connection
Short'Y'
Connection
W A S L E
& C O . , Brown Place and Southern Boulevard, NEW YORK
ALL STEEL TRAP WORK
Simple, Silent, Strong
T
Continuous Hinge*, Bearing Bar*, Padala, Casters
•T
Uif
CHAS. RAMSEY CO.
Connection Connection
We are now located at our new factory, Kingston, N.Y.
Manufacturers of Player and Piano Hardware
and Metal Specialties
1907-1911 PARK AVENUE
THE STANDARD CO.
NEW YORK
TORRINGTON,
CONN.
Established 1853
SYLVESTER TOWER CO.
11 Grand and Upright Piano-forte Actions
Towers Above
All Others
Keys, Actions, Hammers, Brackets and Nickel Rail Furnished Complete
131 to 147 Broadway
Manufacturer* of a
Com plate Line of Piano Aotlon Hardware
Brass Flanges, Damper Rods, Special Capstan
Screws, Bracket and Ball Bolts, Key Fins,
Regelating Brackets and Specialties.
CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASS.
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
The Homer D. Bronson Co.
Manufacture and Sell Direct
PIANO HINGES—DESK HANGERS -
FRONT FRAME CATCHES—KNIFE
HINGES—BUTTS and SPECIALTIES
Write for Quotations
THE HOMER D. BRONSON GO.
BEACON FALLS, CONN.
PIANO
ACTIONS
HIGHEST
ONE GRADE ONLY!
GRADE
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES-WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Avenue and West Forty-Sixth St.
NEW YORK
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
M
,
t .
PLAYER-PIANOS
j PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-
Manufacturers or \ H I G H
G RADE
PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, HEW YORK
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