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HINTS ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE PIANOFORTE
''It is evident that if the Piano is to remain in good
order for many years, good care must be taken of it.
The instrument should be closed when not in use, in order to prevent the accumulation of dust, pins, etc., etc., on the soundboard; however it must not be left closed for a period of several months or longer, but be opened occasionally, and the daylight allowed to strike the keys, or else the ivory may turn yellow.
Any hard substance, no matter how small, dropped inside of the Piano, will cause a rattling or jarring noise. It is in every case desirable that an Indian rubber or cloth cover should protect the instrument from bruises and scratches. The piano should not be placed in a damp room, or left open in a draft of air – dampness is its most dangerous enemy, causing the strings, tuning-pins and other metal parts to rust, the cloth used in the construction of the keys and action to swell, whereby the mechanism will move sluggishly, or even stick. Continued dampness will also injuriously affect the polish or varnish by swelling the wood of the outside case, especially if the latter is of Rosewood, which is a tropical wood with large open pores. Protracted humidity will cause the dry seasoned Rosewood to swell, narrow the pores and thereby with irresistible power force the varnish out of the pores, giving the outside case a checkered whitish appearance, necessitating re-varnishing and re-polishing. Dampness will also swell and raise the soft fibres of the sound-board, thereby forming ridges, which by the inexperienced observer are mistaken for cracks, while in reality affording the best proof of excellent, well seasoned material. All this occurs chiefly in the summer season, and the best Pianos, made of the most thoroughly seasoned material, are necessarily the most affected by dampness, the absorption being more rapid. Excessive cold or extreme heat is scarcely less injurious.
The Piano should not be placed very near to an open fire or a heated stove, nor over or close to the hot air from furnaces now in general use.
Moths are very destructive to the cloth and felt used in the Piano, and may be kept out of it by placing a lump of camphor, wrapped in soft paper, in the inside corner, care being taken to renew it from time to time.
Many persons are unaware of the great importance of having their Pianos kept in order, and only tuned by a competent tuner. A new Piano should be tuned at least once every three or four months, during the first year, and every six months thereafter.''
STEINWAY & SONS, NEW YORK. 1880
order for many years, good care must be taken of it.
The instrument should be closed when not in use, in order to prevent the accumulation of dust, pins, etc., etc., on the soundboard; however it must not be left closed for a period of several months or longer, but be opened occasionally, and the daylight allowed to strike the keys, or else the ivory may turn yellow.
Any hard substance, no matter how small, dropped inside of the Piano, will cause a rattling or jarring noise. It is in every case desirable that an Indian rubber or cloth cover should protect the instrument from bruises and scratches. The piano should not be placed in a damp room, or left open in a draft of air – dampness is its most dangerous enemy, causing the strings, tuning-pins and other metal parts to rust, the cloth used in the construction of the keys and action to swell, whereby the mechanism will move sluggishly, or even stick. Continued dampness will also injuriously affect the polish or varnish by swelling the wood of the outside case, especially if the latter is of Rosewood, which is a tropical wood with large open pores. Protracted humidity will cause the dry seasoned Rosewood to swell, narrow the pores and thereby with irresistible power force the varnish out of the pores, giving the outside case a checkered whitish appearance, necessitating re-varnishing and re-polishing. Dampness will also swell and raise the soft fibres of the sound-board, thereby forming ridges, which by the inexperienced observer are mistaken for cracks, while in reality affording the best proof of excellent, well seasoned material. All this occurs chiefly in the summer season, and the best Pianos, made of the most thoroughly seasoned material, are necessarily the most affected by dampness, the absorption being more rapid. Excessive cold or extreme heat is scarcely less injurious.
The Piano should not be placed very near to an open fire or a heated stove, nor over or close to the hot air from furnaces now in general use.
Moths are very destructive to the cloth and felt used in the Piano, and may be kept out of it by placing a lump of camphor, wrapped in soft paper, in the inside corner, care being taken to renew it from time to time.
Many persons are unaware of the great importance of having their Pianos kept in order, and only tuned by a competent tuner. A new Piano should be tuned at least once every three or four months, during the first year, and every six months thereafter.''
STEINWAY & SONS, NEW YORK. 1880
PRINTED VERSION - CLICK & DOWNLOAD FILE 'Steinway Piano Preservation' below (Office 2007)
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