Square pianos – Monart Piano Collection

1794 William Southwell square piano

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:49:01 +0000

This instrument is a square piano which was made in Dublin by William Southwell and dated in ink on the bottom key “1794 May 8th”. Apart from this date and one other indistinct script written in pencil on the back of the nameboard there are no other markings on the instrument. Although the condition is pretty distressed, it is untouched and has had no previous restorations. It is a five octave instrument with dolly dampers or “southwell” dampers as they are also known because he is credited with their invention. These are the forerunners of the dampers used on modern grand pianos. These dampers are captive, meaning that they are screwed directly into a block hinged by leather to the back of each key. In order to extract a key the corresponding damper must be removed. There is no sustain but a beautifully made buff/harp stop behind the dampers and evidence of a venetian swell exists over the soundboard. These were both operated by knee levers similar to those found on Vienese forte-pianos of the time. Sadly the corresponding lever and the venetion swell were removed at some time. It is currently awaiting restoration.

1797 Longman & Broderip square piano

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 14:56:42 +0000

This square piano is by Longman & Broderip and from the numbers can be dated to 1797. It is a five and a half octave instrument and has southwell dampers instead of the leaver dampers which were far more common at this time. It has a particularly fine early painted nameboard. Although it is obvious that there has been some attempt at restoration in the past, this was mild and not very intrusive and so the piano is currently awaiting restoration.

1832 Clementi Square piano

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 14:26:03 +0000

This is a square piano by Clementi & Co dating from 1832, just before the company changed over to Collard & Collard (late Clementi) on their instruments. It is thought to be the latest known square to bear the Clementi & Co name. It is a fairly standard late C&co instrument with the square damper heads more common on Collard & Collard instruments but has some nice carving to the legs and a pedal lyre with one sustain pedal. It is awaiting restoration and has some quite bad splits to the lid which have had bracing put in but these should be repairable. Either way, these make lovely instruments when restored.

Clementi square piano C.1808

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 13:23:56 +0000

This is a Clementi square piano of C.1808 and is awaiting restoration. It is typical of Clementi squares of the period with a captive damper system, five and a half octave compass etc. The case is rather attractive with a typical Clementi pattern inlaid band and spiral turned legs. It also has a well preserved name cartouche with the name in gold on a black ground surounded by a string of painted pearls. It’s matching pedal leg has survived intact. It’s inked number of 7321 is located on the rear of the wrestplank with it’s stamped number of 6422 beside the keywell.

Muir, Wood & Co square piano C.1805

admin — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 12:36:03 +0000

This square piano was made by the company of Muir, Wood & Co of Edinburgh in c.1805. The similarities to Broadwoods of the period is a theme that seems to run throughout their existance and theories as to why are many. Some say that the workers at M,W &Co came from the Broadwood factory, some say they were just copying Broadwood pianos directly, and another theory is that they were actually made by Broadwood and sold on to M,W & Co to be sold under their name. It is probable that we will never know but the workmanship and construction is certainly consistant with Broadwood. The only major difference in construction being that the case left of the keywell, which on a broadwood is hollow and contains a cubby hole for storing spare strings and tuning hammers, is solid. This gives the case a structural integrity that some Broadwoods don’t have. I have seen structural failures on Broadwood squares because of the weakness caused by not having a solid block of wood there joining the side to the base boards. Like a Broadwood it has brass “Peacock” under-dampers which, once set up properly, are most effective and lend a distinct sound to the instrument. This is cause by a plucking sound similar to a harpsichord. although at the end of the note rather than the begining. Unusually, this particular instrument has a sustain mechanisim. These tend not to be fitted to the broadwood versions, and where they were, they usually have long been removed, primarily as they are hard to set up and regulate. You need to start where the tail of the damper rests on the lifting rail and adjust everything back from that. This particular piano is currenty undergoing a full restoration.

Clementi & Company square piano. C1798

admin — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:37:35 +0000

This Musio Clementi & Company square piano is a rare survivor but will need extensive restoration to bring it back to playing condition. Current thoughts are that it dates to about 1798 and was actually made for Longman & Broderip but then finished, and rebadged by Clementi when he took over their business following their bankruptcy thus making it possibly one of the earliest Clementi square pianos. This is further supported by the similarity to the 1794 William Southwell of Dublin, in the collection, which shares not only very similar proportions but also the same curved hammer rail and has a buff stop fitting, the mortice for which, can be seen in the left hand side of the case. As there is no other evidence for the buff stop on the piano, it seems certain that the direction of construction changed mid way through. The idea that Southwell, who was associated with Longman & Broderip at this time, may have had a hand in it’s design, if not directly consructed it, is further support for the earlier date. It is a five and a half octave single action instrument with captive southwell dampers.

Broadwood square piano of c. 1822

admin — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 13:04:08 +0000

This Broadwood square piano of c. 1822 was a rescue and will need extensive restoration to bring it back to being a playing instrument. It will need replacement led threads. The soundboard may need to be removed for repairs, possibly the hitch rail capping replaced and dampers and hammers sorted and any missing ones remade. Once restored it will be a very attractive piano and Broadwood of this era can have a very sweet tone.

Broadwood square piano of c. 1839

admin — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 13:00:31 +0000

This Broadwood square piano of c. 1839 is of one of their more unusual models, with a key cover similar to a grand piano rather than the more usual type attached to the underside of the lid. Some of it’s more notable features are the handsome carved mahogany legs, and the inset fretwork panels in the top. Once restored this will be a fine instrument with the more powerful sound of the later English squares.

Joshua Done

admin — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:11:25 +0000

This square piano by Joshua Done is dated 1795 and is awaiting restoration. It is a five octave instrument with lever dampers but, despite the grove for it, no sustain levers appear to have ever been fitted. It features an especially nicely inlaid name board. The soundboard will need to be removed as it is badly split and distorted and there is a separation from the base boards on the left hand side.

John Geib

admin — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:56:12 +0000

This square piano, c.792 is atributed to John Geib as, although badged as a George Astor & Co instrument, it is identical to a Longman and Broderip of a similar date. It is in very good untouched original condition and will only need light restoration to bring it back into full playing condition.