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| Pianoforte-makers
in England
BRINSMEAD
in London
Official description and illustrated catalogue of the Great exhibition, 1851, p. 465
1862
ln the escapement of this action, the hammer relieves itself from a block on the end of the key; the set-off and repeat being attained by one movement. Thus, the touch of the most rapid performer never fails to elicit a distinct note. Again, the lever and hopper being superseded in the mechanism of this action, the full force of the blow is transmitted direct from the string to the hammer; while, in the ordinary action, the sticker is hinged from the butt with leather,and connected with levers by leather clothing, the underside of the lever having a piece of box cloth, which forms an clastic cushion for the hopper to strike against. From the consequent and necessary interposition of these clothings, a portion of the power of the blow is absorbed; while, in this action, the sticker is connected with the butt by a bushed centre, resting on the adjusting block and the end of the key, and is the only medium from the hammer, thus gaining its superiority of power. In the construction of the ease, iron supports aro scientifically introduced in front of bracings, forming square abutments against metal plates from the bottom block, and bent side to the wrest or tuning-pins' plank, thereby rendering it impossible for the case to yield to the great pull of the string; carrying out a perfect compensating principle, and ensuring the instrument standing to one pitch, however variable the temperature of climate; as the iron supports in the front of the wood bracings and the strings contract or expand in the same proportion. Thus, we have in this instrument all the modern improvements combined with the principle patented by Mr. Brinsmead." Cassell's Illustrated Exhibitor: Containing about Three Hundred, 1862, p. 103
Brinsmead's Check Repeating Action.
In all upright check
actions hitherto made, the hammer must return to the rest before a
repeat can be obtained. In the present action the hammer is
perfectly checked with the slightest movement of the key, thus
gaining a most rapid and perfect repeat, a desideratum long desired.
Again, the lever and hopper being superseded in the mechanism of
this action, the full force of the blow is transmitted direct from
the key to the hammer.
1865
1867
1876
1878
Jobbery at the Paris Exhibition
Dr. Stainer had, for instance, a telegram late on
Saturday night to attend a meeting on Monday morning at nine
o'clock. This necessitated his travelling all Sunday night, and
arriving early in the morning, when he was of course utterly
unfitted for bodily or mental fatigue.
Dr. Stainer, however, acted manfully, keeping a
watchful eye throughout on the conduct of the slippery Frenchmen,
and, despite the fact that he was necessarily hopelessly ignorant of
the technical details of pianoforte manufacture, defending British
interests to the utmost of his ability.
Dr. Stainer and other jurors at once protested
against this childish "go up one in your class" idea, but the six
French jurors, with Bord at their head, stood together, and with the
assistance of the Belgian juror they carried the day.
This expedient at once knocked out Messrs.
Brinsmead and Messrs. Challen for the gold and silver medals
respectively, and other exhibitors also suffered. Messrs. Brinsmead
appealed to the British commission, and were duly commiserated with.
Messrs. Challen also appealed to Sir P. Cunliffe
Owen, who replied he could do nothing. Oneman, the Swiss juror, M.
Hégar, a pianoforte maker, and besides M. Bord the only practical
maker on the jury, also protested, but, having been outvoted, he
gave way. France, then, with a clear majority on the jury, carried
all before it. The jury lists, indeed, offer curious and ridiculous
anomalies.
Messrs. Dreaper, of Liverpool, are for instance
awarded, besides an honourable mention in the furniture class, a
bronze medal in the musical department for "an improved sounding
board." Messrs. Dreaper are, we believe, not piano makers, and have
no factory, the action and works of their piano being, we are
informed, purchased at Zurich.
Indeed, Messrs. Dreaper did not claim for their
piano, but for its "Greco-Egyptian case," a piece of furniture as
handsome as it was tasteful.
Another exhibitor in a foreign section wished, as
his country's juror had resigned, to place himself hors concours,
but the authorities would not allow it. So, we are informed, he
locked up his instrument, and placed a cover on it. Yet, for some
reason hidden to all save the jurors, that sapient body deemed the
instrument they could never possibly have looked at worthy a medal."
Music Trades Review, 15/11/1878, p. 11
Their oblique piano seems one of the most beautiful instruments of its sort
ever turned out of a British workshop, while the new sustaining pedal in
their grand is so simple and so efficacious that it ought to supersede the
older plan."
Music Trades Review, 15/06/1878, p. 2
1879
(1) a walnut short grand, with the sostinente sounding-board (patented by them March 20th, 1869), the new complete metal framing, and the patent (1868) perfect check repeater action; (2) a walnut seven and a quarter octaves sostinente oblique piano, with the patent (1879) tone-sustaining pedal, complete metal framing, &c.; (3) a small upright iron grand piano. Both the latter instruments are fitted with the patent perfect check repeater action." Music Trades Review, 15/06/1879, p. 8
1880
The
acoustic qualities of this portion of the building are so superior that it
has been proposed to remove the instruments entered for competition to this
saloon, and to have the tone of all tested in succession under equal
advantages."
The Sydney Morning Herald, 09/12/1880, p. 7
(trove.nla.gov.au)
Like the French makers, Messrs. Brinsmead have
retained the old system of wooden instruments and parallel stringing. The
innovations due to American, and adopted so completely by German
manufacturers, have to be considered from different points of view, viz.,
solidity of construction, sonorous tone, and economy of cost.
They, as well
as the French makers, do not ignore the advantages to be derived from the
American system, and if they have not adopted it, it is possibly because
they suppose that the vibration is greater and the sound travels further in
the piano entirely constructed of wood than in that of iron. This firm also
exhibited a semi-grand and a boudoir grand, which fully maintained their
reputation.
First award. [...]
COTTAGE
PIANOS.
[...]
BRINSMEAD, J., AND Sons, London. — The pianos of this firm are well
constructed. Their patent action is greatly simplified by diminishing the
number of centres, repeats well; the sounding-board covering the whole
surface of the instrument, has greater elasticity; the vibration of the
strings is greatly increased, and the tone improved thereby.
An improvement
on the system of compensating bars is also introduced, the strings passing
over them on to the bridge of the sounding-board; a pressure bar, which can
only be regulated by means of a series of screws, controls the pressure of
the strings so as to diminish or increase the tone at will. The touch of
these instruments is most agreeable. First award."
Official Record: Containing Introduction, History of
Exhibition, Description ..., 1882, p. 46-49
1. A concert grand, in
solid oak case, bound with brass. Messrs. Brinsmead and Sons have made great improvements in their pianos during the last quarter of a century, and manufacture none now but of the first class. Their exhibit was an interesting and a very important one. Messrs. Allan and Co. (as agents for the house of "Besson," of Paris. London, and New York) showed a well-furnished case containing a complete set of instruments for a military band, all of "Besson" manufacture. These consisted of helicons, bombardons, euphoniums, baritones, trombones (duplex and baby), alto and tenor horns, flügel horn, B flat cornets, E flat soprano cornets, E flat clarionets, B flat clarionets, bassoon, flutes, trumpets, bugles, and side-drums. All the instruments in this case are thickly gilt or richly electro-plated, and they are engraved by hand in fine designs. The valve actions have been made silent, so as to do away with "clicking." The whole contents of the case make a complete and very interesting collection. The well-known firm of Challen and Sons, of 20 Oxfordstreet, London, show four pianos of cottage and piccolo form, and a model of their "check action," which is to be found in each instrument. The quality of their instruments has been well known and approved here for many years past. They are all of admirable finish in their interior workmanship, and the cases are of strong and elegant construction, and are oramented in the best artistic taste." Official Record: Containing Introduction, History of Exhibition, Description ..., 1882, p. 131
1881
1884
1885
A very large number of improvements, both in action and framework, have been introduced by them, a full description of which would occupy too much space. Those who are interested in such matters may be referred to Messrs. Brinsmead's pamphlet, 'A New Era of the Pianoforte." The Athenaeum: Journal of Literature, Science, the Fine Arts, Music and ...,20/06/1885, p. 800
1889
1889
1894
BRINSMEAD
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Pianoforte
for Peninsular and oriental steamship Paramatta,
1851 (?)
