Square pianoforte.
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InstrumentSquare pianoforte/Pianofortes/Keyboard/Musical Instrument ; Square pianoforte |
Instrument FamilyKeyboard |
MakerJohn Broadwood and Sons |
Place MadeLondon ; Europe ; England ; United Kingdom |
Date Made1853-1854 |
DescriptionTechnical description: English square pianoforte. Compass 82 notes C₁ - A₇. Total height of instrument with lid closed 852mm, height from floor to top of natural keys 643mm. Late Broadwood square piano action with hopper dampers. Double strung except in the bass which had single strung strings from C₁ - E-flat₂. No evidence of a pedal, but there are remains of pedalboard pulldowns from C₁ - E₄, the leather thongs with attached to the trackers remain. The soundboard goes over all of the area behind the keyboard with a slot for the hammers. The faceboards are recessed behind these corners by a distance of about 4mm. The music desk is attached to the back of the nameboard. Iron plate acting as the hitchpin holder behind the bridge. The double strung section has equalised string lengths to ensure both strings have the same tension. The stringing in the treble alters so that the angle of the string at the top note is perpendicular to the front and back of the case. Iron bar between the hitchpin plate and the wrestplank. Sycamore veneered wrestplank. Ivory naturals, ebony accidentals, plain sycamore keyfronts, natural touchplates length 45mm, accidental touchplates length 92mm (in the middle of the compass). Three-octave span 490mm. The legs have octagonal columns, and are turned at the top and bottom. The lid divides at half of the width, the keywell flap is attached to the lid flap. Prop-stick for supporting the lid on the bass side. Removable fretwork pieces on either side of the music desk covering the front half of the instrument. Three hinges between the spine and lid. Nuts divided between the overspun and plain strings. There is a rebate in the spine to give enough room at the back of the instrument for the treble wrestpins. String lengths and striking points: C₁ 1487 (125), F₁ 1424 (146), C₂ 1337 (169), F₂ 1294 (195), C₃ 1092 (156), F₃ 896 (115), C₄ 584 (75), F₄ 438 (54), C₅ 293 (36), F₅ 221 (25), C₆ 147 (13), F₆ 111 (11), C₇ 72 (8), F₇ 54 (7), A₇ 47 (6). Serial number: 61907. Overall size: 1823. Body length: 1823. Body width: 786. Body depth: 326. Inscribed on an attached label below the nameplate "Patent / John Broadwood & Sons, / Manufacturers to her Majesty / Great Pulteney Street, Golden Square / London" on the nameplate, "SOLD BY / HAMILTON & MULLER, EDINBURGH"; on the wrestplank at the bass end "61907". Note names by the tuning pins. Stamped on the wrestplank in the middle "J. Wilson". Written in ink on the wrestplank by the brace "HR" (?) or "MR". Decorative features: Mahogany case with curved front corners. Nameboard with curved corners forming keywell sides as well in single piece, veneered in rosewood. Fretwork either side of the nameplate is backed by red silk. Repair History: The treble lid flap - keyboard flap hinge is broken. |
NotesD.P. Martin, 1996-1997. |
MeasurementsInstrument: 80.01cm wide, 186.69cm long, 36.83cm deep. Legs: 55.88cm long, 12.7cm diameter. ; 1823. |
Provenance(Reid Collection) ; Bequeathed to The Galpin Society by Mr. H. Wheeler in 1972. |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number0496 |