Tangent-action square piano by Frederick Beck, London and in...

Estimate

£1,500 - £2,000

Tangent-action square piano by Frederick Beck, London and inked on the soundboard
'A.F. Beck 1790. Patent', the case of mahogany with stained maple and boxwood stringing, the lid with brass-hinged rail along the back to act as a music rest, the fascia-board and cheeks of satinwood with holly and harewood stringing and stained maple crossbanding, the five-octave keyboard, FF to f3, with ivory naturals and ebony accidentals, tangent action with under-dampers, on framed stand with square tapered legs, inscribed on the fascia-board: By the King's Patent Fredericus Beck fecit / No. 40 Broad Street Soho, the nameboard flanked by painted roses, length 59.5", 151cm, width 21.5", 54.5cm

*See Galpin Society Journal LXI (2008) related to three further Beck instruments. A handwritten note on the back of the name baton inscribed Restored by B.S. Roguski/Ely 1979/ new hammers, dampers and strings fitted/ the case strengthened and improved

**Ivory submission reference LVC8NCVX

More Information

CONDITION REPORT November 2024

Lot 2505

BECK

Tangent action square piano by Frederick Beck, London,1790

Details:

See Galpin Society Journal LXI (2008) related to three further Beck instruments.

Inked on the soundboard 'A. F. Beck 1790. Patent'

The case of mahogany with stained maple and boxwood stringing, the lid with brass-hinged rail along the back to act as a music rest, the fascia-board and cheeks of satinwood with holly and harewood stringing and stained maple crossbanding.

The five-octave keyboard, FF to f3, with ivory naturals and ebony accidentals, tangent action with under-dampers, on framed stand with square tapered legs.

Inscribed on the fascia-board ‘By the King's Patent Fredericus Beck fecit / No. 40 Broad Street Soho’ and flanked by painted roses.

Length 59.5", 151cm, width 21.5", 54.5cm

A handwritten note on the back of the name baton inscribed ‘Restored by B.S. Roguski/Ely 1979/ new hammers, dampers and strings fitted/ the case strengthened and improved’

Condition:

One broken bass string and several iron strings missing.

The piano is not in playing condition.

‘Over restored’ in 1979, when it seems that the base had an extra layer of baseboard fitted and feathered out towards the stand. It is uncertain if the hammers/dampers have been replaced, as the restoration inscription states, or merely recovered with leather/cloth.

The keyboard has a severe case of ‘lead disease’ and the corrosion prevents many keys from working properly.

Observations noted in the condition report are based on obvious signs to the naked eye from an experienced restorer. They are designed for quick analysis of their condition, leaving interested parties to carry out their own personal inspection. Please note that actions have not been removed from instruments.