Dolmetsch Small Spinet 

In the last years of the nineteenth century, Arnold Dolmetsch was the original pioneer of the harpsichord revival in Great Britain.  In the early years of the twentieth century he saw it as his mission to take the harpsichord to the people, and he specialised in designing and building compact instruments - notably small enough to be taken around in a London taxi.  This tradition continued in the Dolmetsch workshops after his death, and this compact spinet, made c. 1965, is typical.

It has a single register of strings at normal 8' pitch, and features patented plastic jacks and a brass register.  There is a buff stop, operated by the lever at the centre of the keyboard.  The keys are of lime, with ebony sharps.  

As was usual practice at the time, the little white stop-knob was originally ivory as shown above.  It has now been replaced with an artificial substitute, as shown below.

Number 981, dimensions 43" x 34" x  6½".  It was checked and serviced by Morley's two years ago.  It is tuned to A415 and has been regularly played. 

It is in Farnham, Surrey; the price is £2,500.   

Please contact Kate Jackson     katejack181@gmail.com

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