While this is going on, the sound-board department is occupied in preparing the sheets of spruce for manufacture into sound-boards. Here great care and skill are necessary to obtain the proper gradation of thickness at all parts of the board’s surface. When the boards are finished, they are put into drying rooms, to remain until wanted for ribbing, bridging and insertion within the instruments.
The first operation in the assembling of the parts is performed by the “bellyman.” He takes the sound-board, ribs it and affixes the bridges according to pattern, bores the tuning pin holes in the wrest-plank, and fastens on the iron plate, which was cast to pattern in the iron foundry, to the back, upon which the completed sound-board has by this time been glued.
Then the “stringer” receives the bellied back, puts on the strings and pressure bar (if the latter is used instead of agraffes). The first rough approximation to pitch is then made by the “chipper,” who pulls the strings up roughly two or three times in succession at intervals of about twenty-four hours.
The case is then turned over to the “side-gluer,” if the instrument be an upright. The case of the grand is incorporated with the back and is put together before the bellying. The side-gluer affixes the sides and key-bed of the upright and also the bottom-board, which contains the trap-work for the pedal mechanism. If the instrument be a grand this department confines itself to the fitting and adjustment of the lyre. After the sides are thus affixed the case is returned to the “flowing-room,” where the final coat of “flowing” varnish is carefully applied. This requires ten days to dry hard.
The case is now ready for the “action finisher.” His work of setting in the action and keys and putting the instrument into rough playing condition has been described in detail.
The pianoforte is then given its first rough tuning by the “rough-tuner,” who surrenders it in turn to the “fly-finisher.” In this department the top and bottom frames, fall-board, panels, key-blocks, name-board, key-slip, hinges, music desk and other parts of the cabinet work are adjusted and fitted. After fitting they are removed from the case and sent to the “polishing department” to be made ready for the final setting up.
The next operation is performed by the “action regulator.” His work, which includes the finishing touches to the adjustments made by the action-finisher and side-gluer, has already been gone over in detail.
The instrument is by this time ready for another and somewhat more careful tuning. Here appears the “second tuner.” The instrument then is permitted to remain in its existing condition until two more tunings have been given at intervals of a week.
The “fine-regulator” next takes the instrument and proceeds to review the work of the action-regulator and correct any deficiencies in touch or repetition that may have been effected by the pounding of the rough tuners.
The “tone-regulator” is next called upon, and his delicate work is needed to give to the pianoforte evenness of tone throughout and an agreeable quality.