Robert Wornum
(ca. 1848)
Pocket Albion Grand/invented and manifactured by Robert Wornum/MUSIC ALL, Store Street, Bedford Square LONDON
Robert Wornum (1780-1852), a talented English piano maker, is believed to have invented the action of the upright pianoforte which preceded the type of piano in use nowadays.
He received notable plaudits for his patents, and invented a vast number of technical, building, and aesthetic features. He was probably aided by his son Ralph Nicholson (1812-1877), an art historian, who collaborated with his father and took over the business on his death.
The piano on display features the so-called downstriking action, by means of which the strings are struck from above.
In the traditional piano action, the soundboard must necessarily be cut through to enable the hammers to reach the strings from below.
The downstriking action is very delicate and complicated, but eliminates the need for interruption of the soundboard, making it possible to build a very compact and solid instrument able to sustain any amount of tension in the strings.
The entire construction can thus be made of wood; there is no need for metal bracings which were felt to alter the tone quality of the instrument.
n. 8336/634
style: grand
lenght: cm. 175
width: cm. 120
height (floor to keyboard): cm.72
compass: FF-g””
octave size: cm. 16,35
bridge: continuous
action: Downstriking
hammer covering: felt
strings: FF-G (bichord cooper winding) G#-g (bichord cooper winding) g#-g”” (bichord iron)
pedals: shift, dampers
structure: wood
case: rosewood figured
