CBH English Square Pianoforte double action

• Always read the accompanying technical description!

More harpsichord stuff @ www.hpschd.nu

Carey Beebe demonstrating the action of an English Square Pianoforte by George Watts, London, c1815. (Nameboard removed for clarity.)

The hammers of the early eighteenth-century English square pianoforte are leather-hinged and suspended on a rail to strike towards the player. When the key is depressed, the graphited top of the sprung mahogany hopper set into the rear of the key pushes the underhammer against a leather pad on the hammer butt, propelling the hammer towards its pair of strings. The hammer is pushed almost all the way, but at the last minute the hopper flips back, allowing the leather covered end of the underhammer to flop down on the escapement pad to prevent the hammer blocking the strings. The let-off can be adjusted with the brass escapement screw which penetrates each hopper. The dollypeg damper is raised by the rear of the key acting on its own hinged damper crank: The damper returns by gravity when the key is released.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• square
• piano
• action
• pianoforte
• fortepiano
• harpsichord
• hpschdnu

[KMNKeybordValt]

Can you make a video on the rest of the piano i want to hear how the rest of it sounds. It has such a Deep Bass for a Square grand

[hpschdnu]

Yes, it's a particularly nice square piano. Unfortunately, though, I'm unable to record more of it for you as it found its new home in Kentucky in April 2007.

[FernandRaynaud]

Thank you so much for all these instructive videos. I have always wanted to see some of the actions up close, any additional ones you post will be welcome! For instance showing how to install double clavichord strings through the "wavy fabric thing".

[hpschdnu]

Thanks for your feedback. I have several others up my sleeve, so stay tuned!

[Pianowrestler]

That F sounded like an E! It this the original way of tuning for an instrument of the first half of the 19th century?

[hpschdnu]

This piano was restrung @ A425, a commonly used pitch for such instruments. While it's a good deal flatter than the usual modern A440, it's not quite as low as an E would be, though.

[WinterFrank]

Yes... that was a F... =)

hehe still I would like to hear more about it :(

[KMNKeybordValt]

Thats Good News. Doyou guys eventualy get more of those piano?

[wolfgang7445]

Harpsichords and Fortepianos own modern Pianos if you ask me, bulky awful sounding things

[Pianowrestler]

Then my own piano (a modern, poor Yamaha) must be out of tune! Honestly, it sounds much more like an E than a F to me!

[hpschdnu]

Yes, early pianos with their openwound bass strings have much more bite than a modern piano. Yes, I am a harpsichord builder, but few makers would contemplate building this sort of instrument today because decent originals are still reasonably available.