Old Broadwood Grand

[dempsey@MARSHALL.EDU]

List,
Hope you can assist me in some detective work regarding a Broadwood Grand
that is located in the Huntington Museum of Art.
I have seen this instrument many,many times but always from "this side of
the red velvet rope".

The Museum recently asked me to come evaluate the piano with the
possibility of returning the thing to good playing condition so that it
might be used for a recital(s).To my knowledge, the piano has not been
touched for the last 25 years,when an "artist"came, made repairs and gave
a recital. I'm told the results were NOT good.

According to the museums provenance this is an 1811 Broadwood, the
earliest 6 octave piano made by them.It is 8'1" in length. A replica of
the piano was made for Beethoven in 1818.There are only three known in
existance. Also there is a portrait of two young ladies sitting in front
of this same instrument(?).The painting was done by Sir William Beechey,
R.A.(1753-1839).

Now the detective part.... in my exam I found a number (17046) stamped
into the underside of the keybed, roughly in the center in front of the
lyre. Assumeing this to be a serial number, I have checked Pierce and the
Broadwood Web page to research the number. Both indicate the instrument
was mad sometime between 1845 and 1849.Still a very old piano but it blows
holes in the painting story.

However, Broadwood used different serial number schemes for their several
different models of instruments they were making;squares,grands, boudoir
grands, cottages,etc.Looking up the 17046 number on the square list it
does appear that this number would fall around 1811. Problem is this piano
is not a square.

There are several signatures in the action frame,first key, and on the
inside of the treble cheek.All are illelgible except the one on the
action. The name "Marshall" in lovely flowery cursive writing.. in ink.
(there's an ironic coincidence)

 Anywho...where do I go from here? The instrument is wonderful on the
outside.. the case is quite beautiful in mahogany, satinwood with rosewod
inlays with surprisingly few dings and bangs.

The inside.... not so much.

The hitch pin rail is badly split and the wrest plank has failed. There
are many broken strings(some missing) Others have been replace with what
appear to be modern wire. The Action is somewhat frail but works. First
and last hammers ar missing, otherwise all original as far as I can see.

I know I'm rambling and this is long.

My considered opinion is to recommend to the museum that they do NOTHING.
Leave it as it is. This is a legitimate historic museum piece whether it
was mad in 1811 or 1850. Nevertheless I'd like to pin down the age if
possible.

Those of you that have background (more than I) with period instruments,
do you have any insight, advise, thoughts,suggestions, sympathy.

Please reply directly unless you all feel that this is appropriate fodder
for the list.  

Paul E. Dempsey:  dempsey@marshall.edu  or dempsey@ezwv.com

Thanks

Paul E. Dempsey, RPT
Marshall University 
Huntington, WV