List of Keyboards
Square Piano by Firth & Hall
This square piano was made by Firth & Hall in New York, New York around 1823-1828. The nameboard is inscribed “Manufactured / by / Firth & Hall / 358 Pearl Street / NEW YORK.” This piano is serial number 104 and has a compass of FF-f4, an English double action, double-strings throughout, 1 pedal: dampers, wood, frame, and a mahogany or rosewood case
Credit: Smithsonian
Cabinet Piano by Firth & Hall
This upright piano was made by Firth and Hall in New York, New York around 1823-1828. John Firth was born in England, came to the United States in 1810, and served in the American army during the War of 1812. He became partners with William Hall, his brother-in-law, in 1821. This piano is serial number 647 and has a compass of FF-f4, a Wornum Tape-check action, felt hammers, double-strings, 2 pedals: keyboard shift and dampers, a wood frame, straight-strung, and a mahogany or rosewood veneer case
Credit: Smithsonian
Upright Piano by Fiot, J
This square piano was made by J. Fiot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1840. Nothing is known of the maker, who may have been related to Augustus Fiot, co-founder of a music publishing firm in Philadelphia in 1835. This is a “cottage piano,” about 44 inches high and the only known instrument by this maker. This piano has a compass of F-f4, tape-check (?) action, felt (?) hammers, single- and double-strings, 2 pedals: dampers and keyboard shift, wood frame, straight-strung, and a veneered case
Credit: Smithsonian
Square Piano by Feldhar, G
This square piano was made by Gerhardt Feldhar in Wisconsin in 1844. Feldhar immigrated to Wisconsin from Westphalia, Prussia in 1840. It is possible, especially given the rather rustic style of the instrument, that he was a carpenter or a farmer who saw a piano and decided that he could make one too. This piano has a compass of FF-f4, Viennese action, with natural keys covered in bone, single-strings (first 8 notes) the rest double-strings, 3 pedals (all missing): bassoon, moderator, and dampers, wood frame, and an unadorned solid wood case
Credit: Smithsonian
