Ganer 1783
Christopher Ganer was a German Immigrant who became a leading maker in London in the late eighteenth century, being active from 1775 until some time in the late 1790s.
This fine example from the personal collection of the late harpsichord maker John Rooks, features a particularly elegant nameboard carrying the date 1783.
It has the usual (for the date) three handstops for divided damper-lift and buff. We see that the damper cover-rail is missing, but these are easy to make.
It was restored by John Rooks some years ago, and remains near to playing condition, although it does need at least one replacement string.
The soundboard with ink script note-letters and the wrestpins appear to be original; there is a surface mark near to the bridge (below).
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