s follows: The frames were not strong
enough to resist the tension of the strings; they were made almost
entirely of wood which yields to the pull of the strings and is
subject to climatic changes; the scale was very imperfect, that is,
the length, tension and weight of the strings were not properly
proportioned, the result being a different quality of tone from
different portions of the keyboard; the actions were either heavy and
imperfect, or too light to produce sufficient vibration; the proper
point upon the strings for the hammers to strike and for the dampers
to bear had not yet been ascertained; the preparation and seasoning of
the wood for the different parts of the instrument had not received
sufficient attention.

One cannot conceive how difficult it is to produce something that has
never existed, until he tries. The requirements necessary to such
results as are obtainable from the modern piano are numerous and rigid
and the result of many costly experiments.

Probably the most important essential in piano building is the
production of a frame of such strength and stability that the enormous
tension of the strings is completely resisted in all parts of the
scale. In many of the cheaper pianos of this day, the lack of this
essential manifests itself in an annoying degree to the piano tuner.
In tuning, the workman "brings up" his temperament in the middle of
the instrument; in most cases the temperament stands all right. He
next tunes the treble, then the bass; after doing his work perfectly
he will often find that the treble fell somewhat while he was bringing
up the bass; or, in a few cases, he may find that the treble
sharpened, thus showing that there was yielding of the frame. Of
course, this defect might be overcome by using an extremely heavy
metal plate and wooden frame; but the commercial side of the question,
in this day, calls for lightness in the instrument as a check to the
expense of production, and, consequently, pianos that are "made to
sell" are often much too light to fulfil this requirement.

In the upright piano, the back frame of wood is first made; at the top
of this is the pin-block, sometimes called the wrest-plank. This is
composed of several layers of wood firmly glued together with the
grain running in different directions to prevent splitting and
warping. Into this plank the tuning pins are driven. The sound-board
is fitted firmly into this frame of wood below the pin-block.

Nex