| John Broadwood |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT JOHN BROADWOOD | |
| 1732 births | |
| 1812 deaths | |
| harpsichord builders | |
| piano | |
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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:
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
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