John Broadwood

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John Broadwood (born 6 October 1732 in Oldhamstocks, died 1812) is the founder of the piano manufacturer Broadwood and Sons.

He inherited his father's profession, that of a joiner, and went to London where he worked for the harpsichord maker Barkat Shudi. He proceeded to marry Shudi's daughter. Shudi died in 1773, and Broadwood took control of the company from his brother-in-law in 1783.

Broadwood and his acquaintances William Stodart and Americus Backers are credited with devising the English Grand Action, an early piano action, and of taking piano design from the box piano to a prototype grand piano. In time his sales of pianos exceeded those of harpsichords, to the point that he ceased to manufacture harpsichords in 1793.

Broadwood's other technical innovations in piano manufacture include:

adding a separate bridge for the bass notes
patenting the piano pedal in 1783
expanding the then-standard five octave range upwards by half an octave, in response to a request of Dussek, and then by half an octave downwards

As a company, Broadwood and Sons prospered, and was passed into the hands of his sons, James Shudi Broadwood and Thomas Broadwood. It is the oldest extant piano manufacturer in the world.

References

Piano: An Encyclopedia, page 57
Pianos and Their Makers by Alfred Dolge, page 244 ISBN 0486228568

External links

[John Broadwood and Sons], official website
[John Broadwood and Sons Piano Manufacturers] by Sally Jenkinson, Surrey County Council

[Broadwood in the grand piano-Photoarchive]

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