home | Pianoforte-makers in England

---

BRINSMEAD
in London

1895 John Brinsmead. "MR. JOHN BRINSMEAD was born in the year 1814 at Wear Gifford, North Devon, and is a son of the late Mr. Henry Brinsmead of that parish, a proprietor of several lime-kilns in the neighbourhood. He was educated privately, and in 1830 selected his business career, that of cabinet-making. He was apprenticed to a firm of cabinet-makers, where he served his time, and on attaining the age of twentyone came to London, and learnt the pianofortemaking trade. He first commenced to make pianoforte cases, then the sounding board, and lastly, the finishing, mastering every department, so as to be able to commence the building of the instrument and to finish it throughout. In the year 1837 he started in business for himself at Windmill Street, and Mr. Brinsmead's great practical knowledge of the pianoforte soon brought the firm into high repute, and the business increased with enormous strides. In 1864 it was deemed necessary to move to more commodious quarters, and later to Wigmore Street, their present showrooms. In 1862 Mr. Brinsmead patented his first invention, and since that time more than a dozen inventions have been patented by him. In 1873 his sons Thomas and Edgar were taken into partnership; he had trained them in the same practical manner as himself, making them work at the bench as if they were ordinary apprentices; again practical experieuce was acquired, the result being shown in every piano made at the Brinsmead factories. Mr. Brinsmead regards his great success as being largely due to the many inventions and improvements he has introduced during the past fifty years, the principal and most recent of which are the "Sostenente Sounding Board," "Check Repeater Action," "Skeleton Metal Frame," and the "Samson Tuning Pin." These valuable inventions have much aided Mr. Brinsmead in perfecting the instrument he manufactures, for not only have numerous invaluable improvements been invented by him, but he tests and makes use of whatever inventions appear worthy of adoption. He has not confined his work solely to Europe, but has travelled and studied the manufacture in America. A great improvement of late years in the pianoforte, is the system of overstringing originally introduced by Tomkisson, of London, about sixty years ago, and subsequently revived with the addition of lengthened bridges, iron frames, and the somewhat fan-like arrangement of the strings on the sounding board. To the perfection of this system Mr. Brinsmead has provided a new method of stringing which empowers the instrument to remain in perfect tune for a much longer period and ensures greatest possible volume of tone and durability. The extensive factories adjoining the London and North-Western Railway Station at Kentish Town are presided over by Mr. Thomas Brinsmead, the showrooms and offices being under the control of Mr. Brinsmead's second son, Edgar. The whole of the woodwork in the offices of the firm was executed by them in their own factory. Mr. Brinsmead, who is now in his eighty-first year, is very hale and hearty, and even at this great age takes a very practical interest in the business of which he is so deservedly proud of bringing into being. He has received many honours, diplomas, and medals from all parts of the world, including the Cross of the Legion of Honour. In 1837 Mr. Brinsmead married Miss Susan Brown, daughter of Mr. James Brown, of London, by whom he has had nine children, seven of whom survive. His private residence is at 16, Albert Road, Regent's Park." Leading Men of London: A Collection of Biographical Sketches, with Portraits, 1895, p. 437-438 BRINSMEAD on this site   ARTICLES EXPOSITIONS INVENTIONS ADVERTISEMENTS FACTORY BIOGRAPHY Click on the links above. For more information and references see page alfabetic B  © Copyright all rights reserved

n