This is an information service for Restorers, Players, Owners and Researchers into Pianos built BEFORE 1837 and similar important historical instruments.
The main reason for this website it to publish the Register of Extant Broadwood Grands
Any relevant information will be considered for inclusion - especially research information for which there is no other suitable vehicle for publication or which ideally is regularly updated.
This site was updated Dec 2007.
Offers, or requests of information about pianos built BEFORE 1837 can be forwarded to:
Periodicals:
Major UK Collections:
Instrument Registers :
Broadwood Grands - a register of 266 extant instruments
Instrument History/Research:
Harpsichord and Fortepiano Peacock Press Scout Bottom Farm Mytholmroyd Hebden bridge West Yorks HX7 5JS .
PERIODICALS with occasional articles;
FoMRHI
Clementi during 2007
The British Art Piano and Piano Design Vol I. by G S Gadd. Published by The Very Yellow Press, 18 The Green, Twickenham TW2 5AA. ISBN 0-9553264-0-0
Broadwood Square Pianos, Michael Cole. Published by Tatchley Books, 334 Prestbury Road, Cheltenham GL52 3DD. ISBN 0-9551777-0-7
The Stringing, Scaling and Pitch of Hammerflugel built in the Southern German and Viennese Traditions 1780-1820, by Michael Latcham. Published by Haags Gemeentemuseum,Stadhouderslaan 41 NL-2517's-Gravenhage,Netherlands.
The Piano-Forte, by Rosamond Harding. (Pianos to 1851) Published by Hecksher and Co. 75 Bayham St, London,NW1 0AA.
The Early Pianoforte, by Stewart Pollens. (Pianos to 1763) Published by Cambridge University Press. 1995 ISBN 0 521 41729 5.
The Pianoforte in the Classical Era, by Michael Cole. (Pianos 1760-1830) Published by Clarenden Press Oxford. 1998. ISBN 0 19 816634 6.
Makers of the Piano 1720-1820, by M N Clinkscale. Published by Oxford University Press. 1993. ISBN 0 19 816323 1.
A History of Pianoforte Pedalling, by David Rowland. Published by Cambridge University Press. 1993. ISBN 0521 40266 2.
The Cambridge Companion to The Piano, by David Rowland. Published by Cambridge University Press. 1998. ISBN 0 521 47470 1.
Keyboard Instruments in Eighteenth Century Vienna, by Richard Maunder. Published by Clarendon Press Oxford. 1998. ISBN 0 19 816637 0.
A Handbook of Historical Stringing Practice, by M Rose & D Law. Published by Malcolm Rose and David Law. 1991. The Workshop, English Passage,Lewes,BN7 2AP. ISBN 0 9518590 05.
PUBLICATIONS PRESENTLY OUT OF PRINT
Clementi,his life and Music, by Leon Plantinga. Published by Oxford University Press. 1977. ISBN0 19 315227 4.
Broadwood by Appointment, A History, by David Wainwright. Published by Quiller Press. 1982. ISBN 0 907621 10 4
The National Trust. 150 Pianos of all ages. Catalogue of early instruments being prepared.
Colt Clavier Collection, Bethersden, Nr Ashford, Kent. TN26 3DD. Phone 01233-820-223. 110 Pianos.
Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent TN17 1HH. Phone 01580-211-702. 64 Pianos, of which 50 pre-1837, 33 pre-1820, 14 pre-1800.
Cobbe Collection Trust, Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Nr Guildford, GU4 7RT. 27 Pianos, of which 20 pre- 1837, 17 pre-1820, 11 pre-1800.
Private collection, Bristol. Enquiries to The Director EUCHMI. 26 Pianos, of which 19 pre-1837, 11 pre-1820, 4 pre- 1800.
Victoria and Albert Museum. South Kensington, London. SW7 2RL 11 Pianos.
Russell Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments.St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street, Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1UL. 11 Pianos pre-1837, of which 9 pre-1820, 5 pre-1800.
Museum of London London Wall, London. EC2Y 5HN. 14 Pianos, of which 8 pre-1837, 2 pre 1800.
Royal Northern College of Music 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD 9 Pianos, of which 7 pre-1837, 3 pre- 1820, 2 pre 1800.
Liverpool Museum. William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EN. 10 Pianos, of which 3 pre 1820 and 1 pre-1800.
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP. 4 Pianos.
Bate Collection. Faculty of Music, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1DB. 4 Pianos, of which 3 pre-1820, 2 pre-1800.
Fenton House. Windmill Hill, Hampstead, London NW3 6RT. 3 Pianos pre-1820, of which 2 pre-1800.
Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT.
Horniman Museum 100 London Road, London, SE23 3PQ.
Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Rd, London SW7 2BS.
Holdenby House/Musical Museum Brentford.
A DATABASE of the pianos in the above collections is soon to be included.
LONGMAN AND BRODERIP square pianos: There was one serial Number series for five octave instruments which ran to over 4000, and a second series for five and a half octave pianos which ran from approx1795 to 1798 and a serial no of approx 900. So far I know of only 4 dated examples from the first series.
First Series:
No 289 is dated 1785 (?)
No 361 is signed "John Geib Fecit 1785" under the soundboard
No 1049 is dated 23rd Aug 1787
No 1072 is dated 1787
No 1134 is signed by Geib 1787
No 2707 is datable to 1 Sept 1792 by Invoice
Second Series:
No 291 is dated 1796 (6 Octave!)
No 430 is dated 1796