Wornum Albion Square c. 1845

A 'first' for Friends of Square Pianos, this historically important Albion Square by Robert Wornum is offered for sale by the Great-Great-Great-Grandson of the builder.  Robert Wornum was one of the great inventors in piano-world in the first half of the nineteenth century.  His innovations included down-striking grands, the 'Piccolo' compact upright, and of course the unique Albion Squares.  But surely his most important invention was the tape-check action, used in every upright made today,  nearly 200 years after the 1826 patent. 

Most of the surviving Albion Squares have a wider compass than this - up to six octaves plus one note, but at just four octaves this is the most compact known, measuring just about 33" square - truly a square piano!

The action is down-striking, enabling the strings to utilise the area under the keys.  This design also permits an exceptionally strong structure wthout the need for an action-gap, and much stronger than the conventional square piano.  I believe that the action is similar to that used in the grands, as in the diagram below.  It certainly looks the same.  

Tuning is achived by removing the slip below the fronts of the keys.  

This historic piano is in Alton, Hampshire; the regisrtration code for exemption in accordance with the UK Ivory Act is YFYYCVTR.   It has not been tuned for a very long time, but the owner assures us that all the notes do work.

The price is £520.

Please contact Anthony Wornum  ant501@hotmail.com

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