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Revised: March 2008
John Broadwood was working in London in the late 1760s when the pianoforte became fashionable. He was at that time employed by the Swiss-born harpsichord maker Burkat Shudi, in Great Pulteney Street, but after marrying Shudi's youngest daughter Barbara in 1769 Broadwood became a partner in the business. Soon after this Shudi retired, though he remained a sleeping partner until his death in August 1773. John Broadwood then continued the workshop alone, at first making only harpsichords. Eventually he began making pianos too, but out of respect for his former master and father-in-law the business retained the name 'Shudi & Broadwood', and all newly-made instruments were inscribed as shown below. (photo shows a harpsichord with machine stop and swell pedal, at the Bate Collection, Oxford, restored by Michael Cole, 1993) So when did Broadwood begin making pianos?
Broadwood's oldest surviving
specimens are two
square pianos made in 1780. (One is in Switzerland, the other in Canada.) Above the keys they
are both inscribed exactly as shown above, in the same hand, on the
same style of cartouche. These
early pianos from Broadwood are very plain,
and have no pedals or handstops.
The very simple trestle stand shown above is typical, but by 1785 some of Broadwood's square pianos were supplied with a more elegant 'French frame' stand, with square tapered legs, and some had a further refinement being handsomely bordered in satinwood, and inlaid with elaborate bandings of exotic timbers — at an extra charge of five guineas. Another optional extra (for two guineas) was a 'swell' pedal, raising part of the lid. But the common pedal which most pianists look for, the sustaining pedal usually expected under the right foot, was very rarely provided on John Broadwood's square pianos made before 1800. It was in 1785 that Broadwood began making grand pianos. Like his square pianos they had exactly five octaves. From 1793 five-and-a-half octaves became the norm for these larger instruments, though five octave examples were still commonly supplied. A grand piano of John Broadwood's make is shown below.
By 1808 John Broadwood had been joined by two of his sons – James from his first marriage to Barbara Shudi (who died 1774), and Thomas from his second marriage to Mary Kitson (who died in 1839, long after her husband). Together the brothers developed the business so that it became the biggest piano manufacturing firm the world has ever seen. Right up to 1850 square pianos remained their best selling product, the later ones having six-and-a-half octaves and a metal plate inside. Many hundreds survive from various periods. Inscriptions: the oldest examples 1780-81 are signed Burkat Shudi et Johannes Broadwood Londini fecit (though Burkat Shudi was in fact deceased); similar instruments, signed Johannes Broadwood Londini fecit were made after 1 January 1782 but before 1 January 1794. Those signed John Broadwood & Son were made in the years 1794 to 1807, and those signed John Broadwood and Sons date from 1 January 1808 onwards. The larger square pianos having a subscript line 'Makers to Her Majesty' were obviously made after Queen Victoria's accession in 1837.
Square piano by John Broadwood & Sons, 1818 Michael Cole has now published a detailed account of John Broadwood's life and his progress as an instrument maker under the title 'Broadwood Square Pianos' – giving far more information on the instruments, their historical and cultural setting, and their preservation. Details of the serial numbers and corresponding dates, and the variety of actions found in these pianos is clearly laid out for reference, together with photographs of representative instruments. The information in this book is the result of fresh research, and careful examination of original documents. It is therefore far more trustworthy than the Broadwood & Sons website, or indeed any previously published texts. BROADWOOD SQUARE Pianos
Published by: Tatchley
Books, Cheltenham, UK. 210 pages, more than sixty illustrations. Format: quality hardback, 240 x
180mm [approx 9½ins by 6½ins] ISBN: 0-9551777-0-7
PRICE:
£40 (incl. post and
packing for UK or Euro zone). Also available to order at bookshops, price £45.00 contents [Click for a details]. Purchase direct from Tatchley Books, 334 Prestbury Road, Cheltenham, GL52 3DD (with the option of having the book signed by the author). Send a cheque for £40.00 payable to Tatchley Books (drawn on a UK bank). You can also purchase this book by credit card — click the link here for Goodmusic Publishing
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John Broadwood,
1786
Broadwood
square piano, 1792
Broadwood,
1802, restored by Michael Cole
