Canadian Forestry Magazine, October, ig20. 



451 



On the left is a completed back or "rim." In the foreground the sounding board and bridge are being 



secured to the back. 



wood is SO arranged as to prevent warp- 

 ing and also to secure that harmonious 

 arrangement of the grain of the wood 

 which long experience has showed to be 

 most conducive to the best tonal effects. 

 From these small widths are built up 

 the various larger members that enter 

 into the piano such as the "back" or 

 "rim"; the delicate sounding board, the 

 heavy posts of the frame and the various 

 sections of the case. No screws or nails 

 are used but by glue and pressure the 

 larger portions are built up or shaped 

 a? required. 



Having touched upon the preparation 

 of the w(K)d before it is sha])ed and built 

 up as well as mentioning the principal 

 woods utilized, let us now pass on to the 

 TicUial coiislruclion of a piano. 

 I'lic lurch or "Rim." 



This in llic I'lmiidatioii to which llio 

 whole system — sounding board, plate, 

 pin-block and strings is attaclicil. Ir 

 assists the nictal I'ranu' in taking up the 

 strain of the strings, which ol'len aggre- 

 gates 25 tones and by its intimate con- 

 nection witli the siinii(Hng board assists 

 in securing thr desired resonant {|nalities. 



The back or ■"rim" of a (irand piano 

 is constructed somewhat dilTcrenlh- but 



it is intended to describe only the ordin- 

 ary upright type in this article. 



Each post which goes to make up the 

 back of a piano is made from several 

 carefully selected pieces of wood, accu- 

 rately matched and glued together, not 

 a single bolt or screw being used. Cut 

 No. 1 shows a corner of the factory 

 v/here a number of backs are receiving 

 the final touches. The heavy posts are 

 made of Maple or Birch. At its upper 

 end the back or "rim" carries the pin- 

 block or tuning block which is made of 

 maple. This section of the jiiano is 

 built up of several layers of maple glued 

 o-ie upon the other with the grain run- 

 ning in alternate transverse directions. 

 The "rim" after it has been gluetl to- 

 gether in the rough is next planed dtnvn 

 to its linished dimensions. 



The Soundini:; Board. 



The sounding board is made of Can- 

 a»h'an White Spruce and the richness of 

 tone is chielly dependant upon the selec- 

 licn of the wood and arrangement of the 

 grain in building them up of a number 

 of narrow strips. The functicMi of the 

 >^^oun(h'ng Ixxird is to increase the area of 

 vibrating surt'ace wiiicli is in contact with 

 fhc air. 'IMie piano strings alone have 



