Piano/Harpsichord by Merlin, J

John Joseph Merlin (1735–1803) was one of the most remarkable inventors working in Britain during the late eighteenth century. Born in what is now Belgium, he settled in London in 1760 and became famous for his mechanical ingenuity, creating everything from automata and clocks to the forerunner of roller skates. Merlin also made important contributions to the development of keyboard instruments. In 1774 he patented a mechanism that allowed a pianoforte action to be added to a harpsichord, reflecting the growing popularity of the piano. He went on to design innovative combined harpsichord-pianofortes and experimented with enlarged keyboard ranges at a time when the instrument was still evolving. Around 1800, Merlin produced an ingenious vertical square piano, one of the earliest attempts to create a space-saving upright instrument while retaining the sound and touch of a traditional piano. His instruments were displayed in the celebrated “Merlin’s Mechanical Museum” in Hanover Square, London, where visitors could admire both his musical inventions and his extraordinary mechanical creations. Merlin’s work helped bridge the gap between the harpsichord and the modern piano, securing his place as one of the most inventive figures in the history of keyboard instruments

Photo Credit: Janot Wikicommons