 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Broadwood Page
John Broadwood & Sons is the only one of the London square piano makers still in business. We are therefore devoting this page to Broadwood square pianos .
Thanks to Alastair Laurence for the piece that follows.
**********************************
JOHN BROADWOOD & SONS LTD.
ESTABLISHED 1728
Pianoforte Makers
FINCHCOCKS, GOUDHURST, KENT
Telephone (01580) 212713
Background. In the spring of 2008, the Broadwood Company - the oldest-established piano-makers in the world - changed hands. In spite of the changes, the company remains very much as it was before 2008: in other words, we continue to build, maintain, restore and tune a wide variety of keyboard instruments, including harpsichords and clavichords, as well as conventional modern pianos. We remain a small, independent family business, directed by members of the Laurence family, with Mr Stewart Broadwood as honorary chairman. We are not a subsidiary of any other company or group of companies. The Royal Warrant was granted to the new Broadwood company on the 13th May 2008.
Our commercial policy, as far as manufacturing is concerned, is to strive to maintain the continuity of piano making in Britain. For this reason, we are intent on developing our own manufacturing facilities here at Finchcocks, and we shall resist considerable pressures from certain individuals within the 'Trade' to have our instruments made at a low price in the Far East. In addition, we wish to develop a series of courses here in our workshops in association with Finchcocks Museum in order to help maintain continuity of manual skills.
Sponsorship. Following on from a tradition established by the Broadwood Trust during the 1980s and 90s, the present company is able to support financially musical events which are related to the piano - in particular, events which might include those instruments built by the company. For example, on the 11th June this year, we sponsored a lunchtime recital at the National Trust's Fenton House, Hampstead, London, performend by the baroque chamber group Trilogue and and featuring an original Shudi and Broadwood harpsichord. On the 4th October we sponsored here at Finchcocks a one-day masterclass by the eminent Dutch fortepianist and teacher Stanley Hoogland.
On this occasion, a group of fortepiano students attended - three from Japan, one from Korea, one from Hong Kong, one from Italy, one from Israel, and others from the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, London. Stanley Hoogland with one of his students, Chie Hirai, gave a fascinating recital on two early Broadwood Grands, the first dating from 1801, the other built in 1823.
Recent Commissions. The new Broadwood workshop, situated in historic outbuildings at Finchcocks, restores approximately one piano per month. This summer, we have completely rebuilt and repolished a grand piano from Buckingham Palace; and our winter programme will include the restoration of two grands from the recently-refurbished Savoy Hotel, London. Our restoration services range from straightforward cleaning, regulation and voicing of grands, to major major reconstructions involving re-stringing and casework re-polishing. Although primarily involved with Braodwood instruments, we also undertake work on other well-known brands, and various models passing through our workshops this year have included a Bösendorfer and a Bechstein. Our restoration fees range from £1,000 to ££8,000 depending on the amount of work necessary or desirable.
New Piano Production. Up to the 11th December 2008, the production of new Broadwood pianos took place at Moss in Norway. There, the famous 'Green Frame' upright model continued to be produced, one of which was recently purchased by the new Nowegian State Opera House at Oslo. The wherewithal to manufacture has recently become based here at Finchcocks, and visitors to the workshops can see some sixteen new upright instruments in various stages of construction. The prices of our new models range from £4,000 to £9,000. It is a very difficult time to commence piano manufacture in Britain, largely because of the competition from cheap instruments imported from the Far East. The demand for new instruments has also diminished as a result of the recession. For example, we have been informed that even Steinway's factory in Hamburg is currently reduced to a two-day working week. In the light of the present difficult situation, the Broadwood company has decided to adopt a policy of supplying new instruments direct to the general public, and not via a music shop or similar retail outlet. This helps us to keep the cost of new pianos competitive, and means that we can, for the time being, avoid registering and charging an additional 15% VAT.
Tuning Services. We continue to operate our long-established tuning connection in the South East. Eight highly-skilled tuners regularly work with us to this end, and some of tehm, such as Alec Brown, Hilary Martin, and Peter Franklin, have been loyally associated with the Broadwood company for many years. Our typical tuning fee is £60 for each visit.
Archive Services. The extensive comapny records still survive. We can therefore provide detailed information about the vast majority of Broadwood pianos (grand, upright or square) made by us since the year 1817. Usually, given the serial number of any instrument, we can confirm its exact date of manufacture, the name and address of its first purchaser, and provide an outline technical specification of the instrument. We charge £50 for each archive search made.
The Chopin Broadwood. This famous concert grand piano, which was hired by our company to Chopin during his British tour of 1848, has for some years ben on loan tot he Cobbe Collection, based at Hatchlands, Dorking, Surrey, where it may be seen and heard by visitors to the National Trust property there. Next February 2010, the instrument will be transported to Paris, to be on display in the museum of the Citie de la Musique for a special exhibition to commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of Chopin's birth. Members of the Broadwood company will accompany the grand on its journey to Paris, and will also be present at the opening of the exhibition.
Technical Courses at Finchcocks. From next year, the Broadwood company, in association with the Finchcocks Museum, will be running a series of technical courses designed for professionals and students. The courses will take place partly in the Broadwood workshops, and partly in the Museum itself, where the resources from over one hundred historic keyboard instruments will be made available. Among the courses of offer will be the following: harpsichord and clavichord tuning and maintenance, including the teaching of 'non-equal' tuning temperaments; installation and regulation of of modern piano actions in the Broadwood workshop; square piano restoration and repair; and practical classes relating to conservation skills for collectors of historical and modern keyboards. For further details, please contact the company on our Finchcocks phone number.
JOHN BROADWOOD & SONS LTD.
ESTABLISHED 1728
Pianoforte Makers
FINCHCOCKS, GOUDHURST, KENT
Telephone (01580) 212713
Background. In the spring of 2008, the Broadwood Company - the oldest-established piano-makers in the world - changed hands. In spite of the changes, the company remains very much as it was before 2008: in other words, we continue to build, maintain, restore and tune a wide variety of keyboard instruments, including harpsichords and clavichords, as well as conventional modern pianos. We remain a small, independent family business, directed by members of the Laurence family, with Mr Stewart Broadwood as honorary chairman. We are not a subsidiary of any other company or group of companies. The Royal Warrant was granted to the new Broadwood company on the 13th May 2008.
Our commercial policy, as far as manufacturing is concerned, is to strive to maintain the continuity of piano making in Britain. For this reason, we are intent on developing our own manufacturing facilities here at Finchcocks, and we shall resist considerable pressures from certain individuals within the 'Trade' to have our instruments made at a low price in the Far East. In addition, we wish to develop a series of courses here in our workshops in association with Finchcocks Museum in order to help maintain continuity of manual skills.
Sponsorship. Following on from a tradition established by the Broadwood Trust during the 1980s and 90s, the present company is able to support financially musical events which are related to the piano - in particular, events which might include those instruments built by the company. For example, on the 11th June this year, we sponsored a lunchtime recital at the National Trust's Fenton House, Hampstead, London, performend by the baroque chamber group Trilogue and and featuring an original Shudi and Broadwood harpsichord. On the 4th October we sponsored here at Finchcocks a one-day masterclass by the eminent Dutch fortepianist and teacher Stanley Hoogland.
On this occasion, a group of fortepiano students attended - three from Japan, one from Korea, one from Hong Kong, one from Italy, one from Israel, and others from the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, London. Stanley Hoogland with one of his students, Chie Hirai, gave a fascinating recital on two early Broadwood Grands, the first dating from 1801, the other built in 1823.
Recent Commissions. The new Broadwood workshop, situated in historic outbuildings at Finchcocks, restores approximately one piano per month. This summer, we have completely rebuilt and repolished a grand piano from Buckingham Palace; and our winter programme will include the restoration of two grands from the recently-refurbished Savoy Hotel, London. Our restoration services range from straightforward cleaning, regulation and voicing of grands, to major major reconstructions involving re-stringing and casework re-polishing. Although primarily involved with Braodwood instruments, we also undertake work on other well-known brands, and various models passing through our workshops this year have included a Bösendorfer and a Bechstein. Our restoration fees range from £1,000 to ££8,000 depending on the amount of work necessary or desirable.
New Piano Production. Up to the 11th December 2008, the production of new Broadwood pianos took place at Moss in Norway. There, the famous 'Green Frame' upright model continued to be produced, one of which was recently purchased by the new Nowegian State Opera House at Oslo. The wherewithal to manufacture has recently become based here at Finchcocks, and visitors to the workshops can see some sixteen new upright instruments in various stages of construction. The prices of our new models range from £4,000 to £9,000. It is a very difficult time to commence piano manufacture in Britain, largely because of the competition from cheap instruments imported from the Far East. The demand for new instruments has also diminished as a result of the recession. For example, we have been informed that even Steinway's factory in Hamburg is currently reduced to a two-day working week. In the light of the present difficult situation, the Broadwood company has decided to adopt a policy of supplying new instruments direct to the general public, and not via a music shop or similar retail outlet. This helps us to keep the cost of new pianos competitive, and means that we can, for the time being, avoid registering and charging an additional 15% VAT.
Tuning Services. We continue to operate our long-established tuning connection in the South East. Eight highly-skilled tuners regularly work with us to this end, and some of tehm, such as Alec Brown, Hilary Martin, and Peter Franklin, have been loyally associated with the Broadwood company for many years. Our typical tuning fee is £60 for each visit.
Archive Services. The extensive comapny records still survive. We can therefore provide detailed information about the vast majority of Broadwood pianos (grand, upright or square) made by us since the year 1817. Usually, given the serial number of any instrument, we can confirm its exact date of manufacture, the name and address of its first purchaser, and provide an outline technical specification of the instrument. We charge £50 for each archive search made.
The Chopin Broadwood. This famous concert grand piano, which was hired by our company to Chopin during his British tour of 1848, has for some years ben on loan tot he Cobbe Collection, based at Hatchlands, Dorking, Surrey, where it may be seen and heard by visitors to the National Trust property there. Next February 2010, the instrument will be transported to Paris, to be on display in the museum of the Citie de la Musique for a special exhibition to commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of Chopin's birth. Members of the Broadwood company will accompany the grand on its journey to Paris, and will also be present at the opening of the exhibition.
Technical Courses at Finchcocks. From next year, the Broadwood company, in association with the Finchcocks Museum, will be running a series of technical courses designed for professionals and students. The courses will take place partly in the Broadwood workshops, and partly in the Museum itself, where the resources from over one hundred historic keyboard instruments will be made available. Among the courses of offer will be the following: harpsichord and clavichord tuning and maintenance, including the teaching of 'non-equal' tuning temperaments; installation and regulation of of modern piano actions in the Broadwood workshop; square piano restoration and repair; and practical classes relating to conservation skills for collectors of historical and modern keyboards. For further details, please contact the company on our Finchcocks phone number.
****************************************
Alastair also writes...
Alastair also writes...
The very last Broadwood Square, number 64161
Here are the
details of our last square made, which was completed at our Horseferry
Road workshops, Westminster, London, on the 11th day of August, in the
year 1866:
Our porters' book for the period indicates that the instrument did not leave our works until almost two years later, on the 4th July 1868. This fact alone gives some indication of the decline in popularity of the square at this date. The relevant Porters Book entry reads as follows:
A number 16 (old list) square pianoforte mahogany 64161. 89 guineas for £65 net. 10/6d strings. Tin and deal case addressed Montagu B. Baker Esq., Dhoolia, Kandesh via Bombay. Delivered at East India Docks to ship 'Michael Angelo'.
The piano was in fact purchased by the Reverend Charles Baker, of Clarendon House, Broadstairs, Kent, who was obviously acting on behalf of his overseas relative Montagu Baker of Bombay. The Michael Angelo was the name of the sailing vessel which transported the square to India.
Our porters' book for the period indicates that the instrument did not leave our works until almost two years later, on the 4th July 1868. This fact alone gives some indication of the decline in popularity of the square at this date. The relevant Porters Book entry reads as follows:
A number 16 (old list) square pianoforte mahogany 64161. 89 guineas for £65 net. 10/6d strings. Tin and deal case addressed Montagu B. Baker Esq., Dhoolia, Kandesh via Bombay. Delivered at East India Docks to ship 'Michael Angelo'.
The piano was in fact purchased by the Reverend Charles Baker, of Clarendon House, Broadstairs, Kent, who was obviously acting on behalf of his overseas relative Montagu Baker of Bombay. The Michael Angelo was the name of the sailing vessel which transported the square to India.
************************
Estimated WEEKLY output of Broadwood square pianos during the period
1780 to 1865. Before circa 1820, the squares were made in and
around Soho. After c1820 they were made in a new factory situated
in Horseferry Road, Westminster:
1780 - 85: 1
1786 - 90: 3
1791 - 95: 6
1796 - 1800: 10
1801 - 05: 17
1806 - 10: 19
1811 - 15: 22
1816 - 20: 22
1821 - 25: 27
1826 - 30: 30
1831 - 35: 21
1836 - 40: 27
1841 - 45: 24
1846 - 50: 6
1851 - 55: 13
1856 - 60: 2
1861 - 65: less than 1
1780 - 85: 1
1786 - 90: 3
1791 - 95: 6
1796 - 1800: 10
1801 - 05: 17
1806 - 10: 19
1811 - 15: 22
1816 - 20: 22
1821 - 25: 27
1826 - 30: 30
1831 - 35: 21
1836 - 40: 27
1841 - 45: 24
1846 - 50: 6
1851 - 55: 13
1856 - 60: 2
1861 - 65: less than 1
**************************
No 'Broadwood' page would be complete without a mention of Michael Cole's book "Broadwood Square Pianos". Copies of this are still available directly from Michael - see the Bookshelf & Recordings page for more details.
**************************
And do you own, or know about, a Broadwood Grand from the first fifty years - 1787- 1837? If so, please go to www.fortepiano.co.uk to contribute to the register being compiled by David Hunt.