Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 68 N. 1 - Page 39
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
JANUARY 4, 1919
MUSIC
TRADE
39
REVIEW
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DRYING
COMBINING FOR FOREIGN TRADE
Unless the Wood Used In the Making of Pianos
Is Absolutely Dry, Trouble Will Result
Copper Producers Banding Together Under the
Webb Law for Export Business
Not at all surprising is it to find the copper
In the whole wood-working industry there is
no one thing of greater importance than the producers of the country combining to take ad-
drying of lumber preparatory to manufacture. vantage of the Webb export law. Many seem
Drying, in reality, is the initial process of man- to have had the notion that the main supporters
ufacture, and an important one, too, inasmuch of the movement to permit combinations in
as the success of all subsequent operations and export trade were the small producers or ex-
the quality of the finished product itself depend porters. But, from the outset, the copper men
were stanch advocates of it. Their reason for
upon it.
Lumber drying has received more than ordi- doing this was stated by them long ago. Ger-
nary attention in many quarters of late, and the man interests concerned in copper were in a
correct principles of artificial drying are com- combination, and made their purchases collec-
ing to be better understood as the necessity of tively. They were thus enabled to play off
drying stock rapidly, thoroughly and with the one set of producers in this country against an-
smallest percentage of waste becomes more and other, and so were able to get the metal for
more pressing. In fact, today, in many lines less even than users in this country. This gave
of woodworking, the period of air-seasoning them a great advantage which they were not
that was once considered so essential is being slow to avail themselves of. It was one of the
dispensed with altogether. It is now quite the many ways in which the Germans succeeded in
common thing to charge drykilns with lumber virtually controlling the nonferrous metals.
that has never been on sticks in the yards. If Hereafter, whenever the Germans are again per-
this stock enters a properly-designed and prop- mitted to buy copper in this country, they will
erly-operated kiln all is well, otherwise it is bump up against a combination from which they
cannot get lower prices than can their com-
likely to be ruined.
There are a number of different drykilns on petitors. It is worthy of note, also, that the
the market, and undoubtedly every prominent copper producers are not alone among the big
drykiln manufacturer can point out several of interests in seeking to make use of the Webb
his own installations that are giving entire sat- Act. A number of the large concerns in the
isfaction. If he could not point out success- iron and steel trade have formed an export
ful installations and satisfied customers he corporation 'similar to that of the copper men.
would certainly not be in line for future busi- This combination will ultimately represent all
ness. Still, there is a choice in kilns. For best the important steel-producing interests outside
results a drykiln should be laid out and de- of the United States Steel Corp.
signed for the particular class of work required
of it. A successful drykiln must be something
THE CONSERVATION OF VARNISH
more than a steam-heated compartment with
tracks extending through it to accommodate Piano Manufacturers Will Dd Well to Give
lumber cars.
Thought to This Important Subject
First of all, the kiln should be of fire-
The fashion in finish has considerable to do
proof construction and built of such material
and in such a manner that it will retain its heat with the quantity of varnish used in the furni-
to the best advantage and resist all outside ture and piano industries, and if those who set
elements that may tend to lower the inside the fashions will have conservation writ large
temperature. Otherwise it will always be a in their minds when bringing out a new finish,
costly proposition to maintain, and the drying they will be doing a worthy and patriotic thing.
results will fall short of what they should be. Wherever possible the finish should be dull; not
The successful drykiln must be designed and merely a coat of shellac and waxed, but var-
constructed in such manner that the tempera- nished and rubbed dull, or rubbed to a satin fin-
ture and humidity of the air can be regulated ish or egg-shell gloss. It requires a much
and controlled independently at all times, as heavier body of varnish to make a highly-pol-
desired. The means by which a continuous cir- ished finish than a satin finish, and the latter is
culation of air can be maintained is also a preferable to the former because it is more dur-
necessary feature, inasmuch as it is the flow able. And not only is the satin finish conser-
of air through the pile of stock that carries vation of material, but it is also conservation
away the moisture and consequently dries the of time, as there is at least one less coat of var-
lumber. Cases have come to my notice in which nish to apply and it requires less time to rub.
it was impossible, apparently, to keep the air The conservation of time and material is of
in a state of high or even moderate humidity, interest and value chiefly to the manufacturer,
and at the same time keep up a free circula- but in this instance there is a side that is of
tion of air. It was necessary to sacrifice one interest to the ultimate consumer, i. e., the dura-
condition for the other, whereas both are ab- bility of the finish. A piece of goods with a
solutely essential to rapid and successful drying. varnish body sufficiently heavy to take a high
Poor design or improper piping is usually at polish will not withstand atmospheric changes
so well as will a lighter-varnished piece. High-
the bottom of all trouble of this kind.
ly-polished pianos frequently have the finish
crack when passing from the factory or store
DEATH OF SHERMAN BECKWITH
to the buyer in cold weather; at least they are
Sherman Beckwith, father of the Beckwith found to be cracked in the finish soon after be-
Bros., piano leg manufacturers of Westfield, ing placed in a warm room. The cold outside
Mass., recently died at his home in that city expands the whole structure, and when placed
after a long illness. He was eighty-seven years in the warm room the heavy finish on the out-
side begins to contract by coming first in con-
old.
THE CELEBRATED WICKHAM
QUALITY FIRST
PIANO PLATES
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.FGOEPEL*C0
137 E A I T I3 T ^
NKW
ST.
YORK
tact with the warmer air and before the wood
has been affected by it, hence the cracks. The
same thing occurs if the house becomes cold at
night or during any part of the time. The room
is heated quickly and the heavy varnish shrinks
before the heat penetrates to the wood. A thin
film of varnish does not act that way,-as it will
expand and contract without cracking.
But the above is not the only advantage which
a thin coat of varnish has over the highly-pol-
ished finish. Every one knows how easily a
high polish is injured. The mere act of wiping
oft dust mars it, and in a short time its beauty
is gone, as its highly-burnished appearance fades
away, and it soon becomes neither polished nor
dull—and it cannot be said to be a joy forever.
Not so with the dull-rubbed finish, for wiping off
dust does not injure it, and it can be kept al-
ways as fresh as new by wiping it off with a
little paraffine oil diluted with gasoline or kero-
sene oil.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
There is both profit and satisfaction in
the use of Behlen's Varnish Crack
Eradicator on your refinishing jobs.
Profit because it eliminates the trouble
and expense of scraping off the old var-
nish and shellac. Satisfaction because
the finished job is better, because you
have had a better surface to work on.
Write for sample can today and try it.
M
Behlen & Bro.
Anilines .<£N^ -Stains
Shellacs < >^> Fillers
3 7 1 P E A R L ST., NEW YORK
THE WICKHAM PIANO PLATE COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
Manufacturers of
PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS
HIGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, NEW YORK
THE
JANUARY 4, 1919
MUSIC
TRADE
39
REVIEW
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DRYING
COMBINING FOR FOREIGN TRADE
Unless the Wood Used In the Making of Pianos
Is Absolutely Dry, Trouble Will Result
Copper Producers Banding Together Under the
Webb Law for Export Business
Not at all surprising is it to find the copper
In the whole wood-working industry there is
no one thing of greater importance than the producers of the country combining to take ad-
drying of lumber preparatory to manufacture. vantage of the Webb export law. Many seem
Drying, in reality, is the initial process of man- to have had the notion that the main supporters
ufacture, and an important one, too, inasmuch of the movement to permit combinations in
as the success of all subsequent operations and export trade were the small producers or ex-
the quality of the finished product itself depend porters. But, from the outset, the copper men
were stanch advocates of it. Their reason for
upon it.
Lumber drying has received more than ordi- doing this was stated by them long ago. Ger-
nary attention in many quarters of late, and the man interests concerned in copper were in a
correct principles of artificial drying are com- combination, and made their purchases collec-
ing to be better understood as the necessity of tively. They were thus enabled to play off
drying stock rapidly, thoroughly and with the one set of producers in this country against an-
smallest percentage of waste becomes more and other, and so were able to get the metal for
more pressing. In fact, today, in many lines less even than users in this country. This gave
of woodworking, the period of air-seasoning them a great advantage which they were not
that was once considered so essential is being slow to avail themselves of. It was one of the
dispensed with altogether. It is now quite the many ways in which the Germans succeeded in
common thing to charge drykilns with lumber virtually controlling the nonferrous metals.
that has never been on sticks in the yards. If Hereafter, whenever the Germans are again per-
this stock enters a properly-designed and prop- mitted to buy copper in this country, they will
erly-operated kiln all is well, otherwise it is bump up against a combination from which they
cannot get lower prices than can their com-
likely to be ruined.
There are a number of different drykilns on petitors. It is worthy of note, also, that the
the market, and undoubtedly every prominent copper producers are not alone among the big
drykiln manufacturer can point out several of interests in seeking to make use of the Webb
his own installations that are giving entire sat- Act. A number of the large concerns in the
isfaction. If he could not point out success- iron and steel trade have formed an export
ful installations and satisfied customers he corporation 'similar to that of the copper men.
would certainly not be in line for future busi- This combination will ultimately represent all
ness. Still, there is a choice in kilns. For best the important steel-producing interests outside
results a drykiln should be laid out and de- of the United States Steel Corp.
signed for the particular class of work required
of it. A successful drykiln must be something
THE CONSERVATION OF VARNISH
more than a steam-heated compartment with
tracks extending through it to accommodate Piano Manufacturers Will Dd Well to Give
lumber cars.
Thought to This Important Subject
First of all, the kiln should be of fire-
The fashion in finish has considerable to do
proof construction and built of such material
and in such a manner that it will retain its heat with the quantity of varnish used in the furni-
to the best advantage and resist all outside ture and piano industries, and if those who set
elements that may tend to lower the inside the fashions will have conservation writ large
temperature. Otherwise it will always be a in their minds when bringing out a new finish,
costly proposition to maintain, and the drying they will be doing a worthy and patriotic thing.
results will fall short of what they should be. Wherever possible the finish should be dull; not
The successful drykiln must be designed and merely a coat of shellac and waxed, but var-
constructed in such manner that the tempera- nished and rubbed dull, or rubbed to a satin fin-
ture and humidity of the air can be regulated ish or egg-shell gloss. It requires a much
and controlled independently at all times, as heavier body of varnish to make a highly-pol-
desired. The means by which a continuous cir- ished finish than a satin finish, and the latter is
culation of air can be maintained is also a preferable to the former because it is more dur-
necessary feature, inasmuch as it is the flow able. And not only is the satin finish conser-
of air through the pile of stock that carries vation of material, but it is also conservation
away the moisture and consequently dries the of time, as there is at least one less coat of var-
lumber. Cases have come to my notice in which nish to apply and it requires less time to rub.
it was impossible, apparently, to keep the air The conservation of time and material is of
in a state of high or even moderate humidity, interest and value chiefly to the manufacturer,
and at the same time keep up a free circula- but in this instance there is a side that is of
tion of air. It was necessary to sacrifice one interest to the ultimate consumer, i. e., the dura-
condition for the other, whereas both are ab- bility of the finish. A piece of goods with a
solutely essential to rapid and successful drying. varnish body sufficiently heavy to take a high
Poor design or improper piping is usually at polish will not withstand atmospheric changes
so well as will a lighter-varnished piece. High-
the bottom of all trouble of this kind.
ly-polished pianos frequently have the finish
crack when passing from the factory or store
DEATH OF SHERMAN BECKWITH
to the buyer in cold weather; at least they are
Sherman Beckwith, father of the Beckwith found to be cracked in the finish soon after be-
Bros., piano leg manufacturers of Westfield, ing placed in a warm room. The cold outside
Mass., recently died at his home in that city expands the whole structure, and when placed
after a long illness. He was eighty-seven years in the warm room the heavy finish on the out-
side begins to contract by coming first in con-
old.
THE CELEBRATED WICKHAM
QUALITY FIRST
PIANO PLATES
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.FGOEPEL*C0
137 E A I T I3 T ^
NKW
ST.
YORK
tact with the warmer air and before the wood
has been affected by it, hence the cracks. The
same thing occurs if the house becomes cold at
night or during any part of the time. The room
is heated quickly and the heavy varnish shrinks
before the heat penetrates to the wood. A thin
film of varnish does not act that way,-as it will
expand and contract without cracking.
But the above is not the only advantage which
a thin coat of varnish has over the highly-pol-
ished finish. Every one knows how easily a
high polish is injured. The mere act of wiping
oft dust mars it, and in a short time its beauty
is gone, as its highly-burnished appearance fades
away, and it soon becomes neither polished nor
dull—and it cannot be said to be a joy forever.
Not so with the dull-rubbed finish, for wiping off
dust does not injure it, and it can be kept al-
ways as fresh as new by wiping it off with a
little paraffine oil diluted with gasoline or kero-
sene oil.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
There is both profit and satisfaction in
the use of Behlen's Varnish Crack
Eradicator on your refinishing jobs.
Profit because it eliminates the trouble
and expense of scraping off the old var-
nish and shellac. Satisfaction because
the finished job is better, because you
have had a better surface to work on.
Write for sample can today and try it.
M
Behlen & Bro.
Anilines .<£N^ -Stains
Shellacs < >^> Fillers
3 7 1 P E A R L ST., NEW YORK
THE WICKHAM PIANO PLATE COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
Manufacturers of
PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS
HIGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, NEW YORK
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