Grand piano
Maker
John Broadwood & Son
Maker
Broadwood
Date1795
Place MadeLondon, England, Europe
Serial No.924
SignedWritten in ink on later name plate: John Broadwood and Sons, / Great Pulteney Street Golden Square /
London, 1795MarkingsStamped into hammer rail at top center: 924
Note names written in black ink next to each let-off adjustment screw
Each mahogany hammer butt stamped with note numberDescriptionCompass: 5-1/2 octaves, FF-c4
Case veneered in mahogany, rosewood, and satinwood, brass lid locks
Brown-stained maple stand
Mahogany damper rail
Two pedals, each mounted on case leg:
Left: una corda
Right: damper
English grand action with single escapement.
Hammers with cedar shanks and walnut moldings, bass hammers covered with five layers of leather, the inner of hard, dark sole-type leather and the outer layers soft and light.
Brass pivot rod through mahogany hammer butts, mounted in brass "comb"
Mahogany action frame.
Oak pinblock.
Walnut hitchpin rail.
Trichord stringing throughout.
Bass bridge FF-Ab (brass strung)
Treble bridge A-c4 (iron strung)
Four iron gap spacers.ProvenanceGift of Joan Benson Estate, Eugene, Oregon, 2020. Benson toured with this piano in the mid-20th century. The piano was purchased by the Gallimore family in England in 1796. In 1808 it was shipped to a "Miss Gallimore" in Jamaica.
In 1971, Ruth L. Koch (Mrs. Alfred Koch) leased the piano to Benson, who subsequently purchased it.Published ReferencesBenoit, Adele. "In Search of Mozart: A History and Analysis of the Pianos He Knew and Wrote for." M.M. thesis, University of South Dakota, 2026: 111-115.
Kelly, Rodger. "Joan Benson’s 1795 Broadwood grand piano donated to NMM." _National Music Museum Newsletter_ 45, no. 2 (Spring 2021).
RECORDINGS
Benson, Joan. Music of CPE Bach - Early Piano & Clavichord.
Orion Master Recordings ORS 76223, 1976, LP.
Benson, Joan. The Joan Benson Collection: Clavichord and Fortepiano.
Clavier Classics CC108, 2018, CD.
Credit LineGift of Joan Benson Estate, 2020
Object number15562
On View
Not on view
