Broadwood & Sons (fortepiano), 1793

John Broadwood and Sons, grand fortepiano (1793).

John Broadwood came originally from Oldhamstocks in the Scottish Borders and moved to London to work with harpsichord maker Burkat Shudi.  John married Shudi's daughter Barbera and, in time, became head of the business.  The piano has two pedals, the left to raise the dampers and the right to shift the action sideways so that the hammers strike one or two instead of three strings.

• Broadwood fortepiano