Welcome to this website that gives a wealth of information mainly about early English pianos and their makers but also covers other early pianos. You can also buy authentic early keyboard materials from the online store. Please enjoy your visit and come back soon. You are welcome to get in touch if you would like any further advice. You may have an early piano that you would like to know more about or offer one for sale on this website.
This website is currently being redeveloped and therefore frequent changes to appearance and content are being made.
Authentic Early Keyboard Materials
For all pianos, harpsichords, spinets and other early keyboard instruments
Information and advice
Articles from new research, Directory of makers, Gallery, Instruments for sale and much more.
What's New
William Southwell – The prolific inventor
This paper covers William Southwell’s manufacturing activities in Dublin during the late 18th century and brings into context the progression of instruments he designed and made. He was one of…
A new green Early Keyboard Cloth available shortly
We always aim to produce the most authentic cloths possible of the highest quality and improvements have already been made to the damper cloth that now has a much higher…
Featured Articles
William Southwell – The prolific inventor
This paper covers William Southwell’s manufacturing activities in Dublin during the late 18th century and brings into context the progression of instruments he designed and made. He was one of the most prolific inventors of the early piano and made…
The English Tangent Action Square Piano
A piano with a tangent action is fundamentally different to all other pianos. It uses a hammer that is detached from the action, known as a tangent. It is raised vertically to the strings by an action lever whereas all…
Advice about buying a Square Piano
Updated August 2019 Introduction This article provides a background to the recent interest in square pianos, comments on their musical capabilities and provides guidance on buying an instrument. Rise to respectability Many Georgian and Victorian square pianos have survived but…