Culliford square piano 1785

Eric Wolfley · Post by **Eric Wolfley** » 02 Feb 2004, 17:43

I recently inspected a Longman & Broderip square piano built by Thomas Culliford in 1785. It is in good playing condition, having been carefully restored about 20 years ago. Can anyone point me in a direction where I might learn more about Mr. Culliford? Thanks!

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 02 Feb 2004, 22:34

Thomas Culliford 1750 1800

He first worked for J Hitchcock He then started his company in c1785, in 1795 his address was 112 Cheapiside, later he moved to 172 Strand. as you know he made pianos for Longman & Broadrip He became partners with Rolfe and Barlow in c1795 Culliford left the businessto Rolfe in 1810 Rolfe took his sons in with him and changed the company name to W. Rolfe and sons

If your Square is 1785 it will be one of a handful left surviving

Barrie,

Eric Wolfley · Post by **Eric Wolfley** » 03 Feb 2004, 04:30

A couple more interesting things about this piano...it has no sustain pedal or knee-lever. The sustain mechanism consists of two hand operated levers for the bass and treble, respectively with no way of coupling them together other than pulling them at the same time. Is this typical of this era for this type of instrument? It has two pedals. One operates a muffling batten and the other opens a lid flap as a kind of volume control or swell. The new owner just bought it at auction and intends to use it for house concerts of period music. The information I have gleaned thus far points to a pitch level of around A-422. Is this an acceptable target?

Thanks again, I'm glad I've found this forum.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 03 Feb 2004, 16:17

As I understand it, Culliford (whom some authors say was born around 1747!) was established in 1750, and it was the partnership with Barrow which began around 1785. This ended in bankruptcy in 1798, and Rolfe eventually took over. I can supply printed information, but I am not about to put it all on the net. It was not unusual to have separate handstops for bass and treble, bearing in mind that pianos could not be played in the modern way until pedals were added "the soul of the piano". Pitch is a big subject, no short answers, but Barrie has a lot of information on the site.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 03 Feb 2004, 19:55

Eric Wolfley wrote:A couple more interesting things about this piano...it has no sustain pedal or knee-lever. The sustain mechanism consists of two hand operated levers for the bass and treble, respectively with no way of coupling them together other than pulling them at the same time. Is this typical of this era for this type of instrument?
/quote]

Yes and if Bill has some printed material it would be well worth the small fee he charges

Other Books to view is “Makers of the piano 1700 1820” by Clinkscale, Oxford press ISBN 0-19-816323-1 I would try to get it form the library as it is 98.00 pounds to buy

Eric Wolfley wrote:
The information I have gleaned thus far points to a pitch level of around A-422. Is this an acceptable target?

Thanks again, I'm glad I've found this forum.

See
http://www.uk-piano.org/history/pitch.html
for pitch

Barrie,

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 12 Jun 2004, 23:42

The court records on the Old Bailey website include an item from 1798, in which Culliford says "I am a harpsichord-maker, in partnership with William Rolfe and Thomas Bradford. Our shop is in Fountain-court, Cheapside".

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 13 Jun 2004, 09:40

Just in case any else was interested why jer was in the Old Bailey he was a witness against JOHN GRIFFITHS, for steeling seven pieces of ivory. Transported for seven years,

Interesting site and useful site thanks Bill

Barrie,

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