warping. Into this plank the tuning pins are driven. The sound-board
is fitted firmly into this frame of wood below the pin-block.

Next, the strong metal plate is secured to the frame by large bolts
and screws. Openings are left in the plate for the bridges, which
project from the sound-board beyond the metal plate; also for the
tuning pins, action bracket bolts, etc.

At the lower end of the plate, and just below the bridges,[B] the
hitchpins are driven firmly into holes drilled to receive them. Their
purpose is to support the lower ends of the strings. The bass strings
are separate, and each has a loop with which to fasten it to the
hitchpin. In the treble, one piece of wire forms two strings; the two
ends are secured to the tuning pins above, and the string is simply
brought around the hitchpin. The bridges communicating with the
sound-board are at the lower end of the sound-board. Notice, there is
a portion of the length of each string between the bridge and the
hitchpin.

[B] There are two sections of the lower bridge, one for the treble
and one for the overstrung bass.

[Illustration]

At the upper end of the strings, a "bearing-bar," situated between the
tuning pins and upper bridge, is attached to the pin-block by screws
which draw it inward; its function is to hold the strings firmly in
position. You will notice that the lengths of the strings, above the
bearing-bar, vary considerably, even in the three strings comprising
the unison. (We will speak of the effect of this in tuning, farther