Square Piano

Though this piano was built in the Netherlands, it features many elements of English piano design. The mechanism is an English action and employs an intermediate lever of a type patented in London in 1786. Additionally, the top 15 strings are struck by hammers located beneath a gap at the back of the soundboard; this feature, another English innovation, allows the case to accomodate an extended keyboard. The instrument is housed in a small, mahogany case, and the stand is furnished with handles on the sides and an arched front to leave room for the player's knees to operate a knee lever to lift the dampers.


Technical description: Square piano mahogany veneer case with black inlaid striping, curved nameboard veneered with satinwood, inlaid oval nameplate, ornate gilt carrying handles at ends, table stand with 4 square, tapered legs; unpierced tuning pins; ivory naturals with molded key fronts, ebony accidentals, inoperable knee lever, possibly to raise dampers by lifting rear of key levers, compass C-f4 (66 keys); English double action, intermediate lever with no escapement; wires connected to backs of key levers pass through hitchpin rail and bear small cloth-padded dampers; single strung throughout, bottom 6 notes wound; key levers d#3-f4 extend beneath soundboard, hammers strike through opening at rear edge of soundboard. (L. Libin 4 Aug 76.)