Longman & Broderip Keyed English Guitar

Description (Brief)
This keyed English guitar was made by Longman & Broderip of London, England around 1783-1785. Francis Broderip joined James Longman around 1775 and the two were in business until 1798. This guitar is a six course (2x3, 2x2, 2x1) guitar with a spruce top and maple back and sides. The guitar has a watch-key tuning mechanism, and a key mechanism that activates hammers inside the soundbox to strike the strings upwards through holes in the soundhole rose. This key mechanism was patented by London luthier, Christian Claus in 1783.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
English guitar
prior attribution
1775-1785
date made
1783-1785
maker
Longman & Broderip
place made
United Kingdom: England, London
ID Number
MI*324845
accession number
69366
catalog number
324845
subject
Music & Musical Instruments
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Data Source
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Additional Media

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