As requested by John in the newbie thread,here is a large harpsichord I made for the new Music Teacher's Shop in 1970-71. This is one of the first things I had to make when I came to Williamsburg at age 29. This was a quantum leap for me at the time,because I'd made only 1 simpler harpsichord before.
This was the first time I ever actually had a real harpsichord to examine: The Kirkman in the Governor's Palace was the one I was to copy.
Fortunately,there was a Kirkman in the Smithsonian just the same model as ours,and it had the bottom taken off,so I was able to examine and make quick drawings of its interior construction.The Wmsbg. one was good for getting the exterior details,keyboard,and action.
I was new at my job,and worked like a dog for 9 months getting this ready for the formal opening of the Music Teacher's Shop. I was not open to the public for my first year so I could expedite the instruments they needed.
This instrument is mahogany,with mahogany burl veneer panels on its sides,and curly maple stringing around the panels.The keyboard is basswood with ivory keys,and ebony sharps. There are no pictures of the hinges,but the hardware was cast in the Geddy Foundry right off the originals.
Several years later,I got an apprentice who thought he was a great photographer.He took this image,though it is not well focused.Possibly,the room,lit only by candles,was not lighted well enough for a better image,as he did not use lights.
The soundboard is spruce,with a brass rose I sawed out in it. the nameboard is curly maple and says "Geo.D.Wilson me fecit MCMLXXI." Every now and then a young student learning Roman numerals would ask why it said 1971!!
The veneering was one of the hardest hurdles,as no one,including the Master Cabinet Maker,Jan Heuvel,had ever done veneering. I had a learning curve,and a LOT at stake,but I veneered it with hide glue. It is still on.
The case has a highly polished hand applied varnish finish,as did the original.Probably at least 10 coats,wet sanded between each,and hand rubbed finally.It is felt by some experts that such a finish reflected candle light better. Others think high finishes were not used. I agree with the former,as I've seen plenty of original high finishes.
You can see the lid hooks on the side of the case.The 2 brass knobs over the keyboard are to shift either or both choirs of strings on. The harpsichord works by means of wooden jacks that have several pieces each,and a quill of bird quill,turkey in this case,that pluck the strings. The instrument cannot play in variable volume like a piano by striking the keys harder. To play louder,you shift on more choirs of strings. There could be as many as 5 choirs of strings,and 2 keyboards.
It is felt that in the colonies,this would have been a pretty grand instrument.
Over the "jacks" there is a long batten of wood. This had felt on its bottom,and kept the jacks from jumping out of the instrument.
There are thousands of parts in a harpsichord even this large,and like I mentioned,I worked very hard for 9 straight months on it. I not only had to build it,I made an elaborate bending jig to bend the bentside and the curved bridge.
These instruments are more related to guitar construction than piano construction. The soundboard is a bit over 1/8" thick in the center,tapering near the edges. The bottom is 1/2" thick spruce. The sides all around are 5/8" thick.the straight side,or spine is 3/4". The lids are 3/8" thick. I could actually carry this instrument under one arm when I was young. It is about 7' long and 3' wide.
behind the harpsichord is partly seen a spinet,a smaller version of a harpsichord,similar to the one we made in the movie.
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Originally Posted by george wilson
