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This page revised: June 2010 John Broadwood & Son
John Broadwood's life, and his progress as an instrument maker in Georgian London, has been carefully researched and rewritten by Michael Cole. It is now published by Tatchley Books. Reviewers have uniformly praised its very readable style and its clear, informative presentation of essential data. It also contains many thought-provoking insights into the musical world in which Broadwood flourished. Here is a brief summary of some of the material it contains. ----------------------------------------------------------------John Broadwood & Son John Broadwood was working in London in the 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 from active work, though he remained a partner with a controlling stake until his death in August 1773.JohnJohn Broadwood & Son John Broadwood& Son Square PianosJohn Broadwood John Broadwood then continued the workshop alone. Though nominally in partnership with Shudi's only surviving son (also Burkat), Broadwood was in fact in sole charge, as young Shudi was left no share in the business. At first the workshop continued as before, making only harpsichords. Eventually Broadwood 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? John Broadwood pianoforte
Broadwood's oldest surviving
specimens are two
square pianos made in 1780. (One is now 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. Their appearance is very much like this
piano:
Broadwood square piano, 1792 restored by Michael Cole 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. From 1780 until c.1805 John Broadwood's square pianos were fitted with brass under-dampers, the hammers being hinged on pieces of alum-tawed goatskin as seen below.
Completely original hammers and dampers, Broadwood, 1792. [N.B. The cover rail was removed for the photograph] 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.
Broadwood, 1802, restored by Michael Cole Broadwood grand piano Broadwood grand piano Broadwood grand piano By 1808 John Broadwood had been joined by two of his sons – James from his first marriage to Barbara Shudi (she died in 1774, so their marriage lasted less than five years), and Thomas from his second marriage to Mary Kitson (who died in 1839, long after her husband). Together these brothers developed the business so that it became the biggest piano manufacturing firm the world has ever seen. Until 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.
Square piano by John Broadwood & Sons, 1818 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Broadwood John Broadwood John Broadwood BROADWOOD SQUARE Pianos
Published by: Tatchley
Books, Cheltenham, UK. 205 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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