Clavichord by Cristofori, B

The external design is modelled on the spinet he built (see Inv. No. 86). The instrument has thick walls. In the bass register, eight double-armed intermediate key levers run transversely to the actual key levers; their ends engage with the rear end of the key corresponding to the higher note in a double-stop combination and are actuated when the front key is pressed down. The double-stop combinations are: 1F–1G, 1A–1B, 1H–C, C♯–D, E♭–E, F–F♯, G–G♯, A–B. From H upwards, the clavichord is fretless. The strings of this instrument, which is double-stringed throughout, run in the range from 1F to b on 12 individual bridges running perpendicular to the back panel, each carrying 1–3 sets of strings (‘Italian scale’), whilst from h onwards the strings are routed over a continuous, curved soundboard bridge.

Credit: Uni of Leipzig

Source: Restoration report by Josef Meingast. Published in: Das Musikinstrument 2/3 1994