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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 (a few very early grands may also squeeze in.)
The Master of the firm these days is Alastair Lawrence, who is also the curator of the Finchcocks Collection. There is a member of the Broadwood family on the board, and it is still possible to buy a new Broadwood piano. Alastair has very kindly offered to make contributions to this page.
The main details of Broadwood pianos for sale at auctions will be on this page, but there will also be a link from the Home or Auction pages. I will also try to add a few notes to put each of the sale pianos into historical context.
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The picture at the head of this page is the nameboard of my own latest
acquisition, piano number 697, dated 1787. The date might look
like 1797, but it has been altered - probably about two hundred years
ago! If it really was '97, the nameboard would read (in English)
'John Broadwood & Son' ... etc. This change was made
in 1794, and James Shudi Broadwood was made a partner in the
firm.
Broadwood's numbering seems to have started at 200 in 1784; pianos made before this are dated on the front but not numbered. This 1787 piano is of the original design, although some of the very early pianos show minor differences.
Broadwood's numbering seems to have started at 200 in 1784; pianos made before this are dated on the front but not numbered. This 1787 piano is of the original design, although some of the very early pianos show minor differences.
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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.