to the fact that Mi. Moutrie, of Messrs. S.
About two years ago attention was drawn
Moutrie & Ca., had succeeded in turn. ing out the first piano manufactured in Shanghai. Although only a comparatively short interval has elapsed, what was thas aecumetly ah experiment has grown into a vigorous industry, with the prospect of a bright future. In all some 95 instruments have been made at Messrs. S. and in every case they have given complete Moutrie's factory in the Nanking Road,
satisfaction, being remarkable for excellent tone, and standing the severe climatic changes of China in a surprising way. About six a month are now being completed, and the demand is greater than the supply, the instruments as a rule being sold before they are finished. They have been sent to the most distant parts of China, as well as to the outports, and, as we have said with every satisfaction. Apart from the advantage of being constructed to resist the climate, which in this part of the world works such havoc with pianos, they have the additional and important recommendation of costing less than the imported article. The counterpart of a cottage Piano from home which would cost about 360, can be bought for say Tls. 250, and for conscientious workmanship, quality of tone, and beauty of design and finish the locally manufactured piano stands the test of strict comparison.
Recently a representative of the N.-C. Daily Nets had an opportunity of going over the factory, and witnessing the delicate and complex work of building up a piano, It was a most interesting occasion, demonstrating once more the high lo which Chinese artisans can be trained to, and the amazingly accurate results they can attain under competent instruction and supervision. When itis learned thatthe majority of the operatives have come into Mr. Moutrie's hands unfamiliar even with a brass screw, the state to which they have been brought as carpenters, joiners, and mechan nicians, is a credit to his patience and skill. Before proceeding to write of the work carried on there, description of the factory in the Nanking may not be out of place. The ground floor is principally used for the storage of lumber in its rough state, but of two small rooms partitioned off, one is where the finished instrument is tuned, toned, and regulated, and the other for the storage of actions, keys, and metal parts which require' careful keeping. The iron-frames, hammer-felts, wite, etc,, are also here, whilst the stock of screws ina variety of sizes is certainly striking. Necessarily great attention has to be paid to the wood used in the piano. The lumber includes beech from Japan, teak from Bangkok, fir and spruce from Vancouver, and poplar from other parts of America. As an instance of the care exercised in the selection of the materials at the factory, it specially surveyed at Bangkok before be stated that Mr. Moutrie has the antee that it is of the best quality, and tres it is shipped, and it comes up with a guar-from any flaws or defects, "In the ordinary course such wood only finds a market in Europe, for the timber coming here usually is only of third quality.
It is on the top, or second floor, that the, building of the piano ually takes place. This well-lighted and airy workshop is fitted with strong beams extending to the roof, making a capacious storehouse where the planks season and become fit for use. Speaking generally, the timber goes through a scientific course of acclimatising which lasts for about two years. First of all it is stored in a godown in rough planks for about six months, so as to become gradually dry. Then it is cut into the requisite sizes and placed in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.