HOW PIANOS ARE INJURED.

Evening Star, Issue 3941, 12 October 1875, Page 3

HOW PIANOS ARE INJURED.

There are more pianos injured by improper tuning than by legitimate use and the consequent natural wear of the instruments. The frame of a good piano, fully strung and tuned, is made to resist a tension equal to about seven tons. Thi3 severe strain relaxes as the strings recede from pitch, but is renewed when the piano is tuned; and it is frequently discovered, as a result of this repeated process, that the frame is bent or bellied ; and, at the hands of a tuner lacking judgment, an instrument at this stage is soon injured beyond remedy. With reasonable use, a piano is expected to remain in good condition for seven years, and the best maker* will so guarantee their instruments ; but the incompetence of some tuners injures thousands of instruments in a few years. Many tuners do not carefully note the condition of the frame of a piano, and adapt their treatment to the circumstances of the case, with full knowledge that a bent, weakened, or very old frame will not stand the extreme tension or sustain the strings at the high pitch which can be put upon and borne by a frame and wires which have never been injured through ignorance or neglect, and bear no special marks of time or use. There are very few pianos, even those of the best description, that will stand at concert pitch. Were the matter generally understood by the owners of pianos, they would consider it greatly to their interest to have their instruments tuned by persons in whose hands there is the least possibility of accident or injury.—' Family Herald.