Peter Smalley Peter Smalley Harpsichord and Early Keyboard Instruments

Workshop

Positioning the 8' bridge

I am extremely lucky in that as my workshop has been converted from old farm buildings, I have been able to design the workshop around the specific requirements of harpsichord building. The photograph on the left shows me working at the front of the workshop - on the right is the view from there.

The following photographs show an instrument being made in the approximately correct sequence. Placing the cursor over each photograph should display an explanation.

View from workshop
The bent side in its bending jig Glueing up the case Glueing the 4' hitchpin rail to the soundboard Bottom view showing interior bracing
Turning the legs for the stand In the paint shop Applying the gold bands Glueing in the soundboard using 'go bars'
Amanda Baird starting to paint the soundboard Measuring the string lengths Sharon Gould giving the new instrument a 'test drive'