1773

Clementi's Sonata Opus 2 is probably one of the first pieces to be composed with the piano in mind and not the harpsichord. Haydn's popular piano sonatas started the shift from the harpsichord to the piano. But it was Mozart's piano concertos which put the piano on the map, especially through Mozart's virtuosity on the Viennese piano, which had a light touch, a very crisp treble, and a very efficient damping mechanism. Mozart didn't like the English action as it was heavy and the dampers were very slow. This is one reason Mozart's music transfers well to a modern piano, unlike Clementi's music, which in his later years he wrote mainly with English pianos in mind.

1774

Frederick Beck established himself at 4 Broad Street, Golden Square, London. There are no records for him after 1795.

1774

John Joseph Merlin (1735-1804) came to England in 1760. He introduced the "una corda" pedal which moved the action to one side, hitting only two strings instead of three, making the piano quieter. In 1774 he took out patent number 1081 for a combination harpsichord-cum-piano, which he called his "Compound Harpsichord."

1775

Johann Behrent of Philadelphia was probably the first piano maker in America, and he made squares.

1776

America declared its independence.

1777

Erard made his first square piano; it was probably a copy of an English Zumpe piano. For more info on Erard see The History of Sebastian Erard for more info.

1777

Robert Stodart, a former apprentice of John Broadwood, took out patent number 1172 for an instrument which was both a harpsichord and piano. Apparently you pressed on one pedal and this disengaged the piano and engaged the harpsichord. If you pressed on the second pedal this operated the swell.

1777

Erard made his first piano in France. He then moved to England where he remained until 1796. He then went back to France and in 1802 opened his Paris factory.

1783

Broadwood introduced a sustaining pedal and is credited with its invention. However, there is a Backers Grand of 1772 in the Russell Museum, Edinburgh with two pedals, one on each front leg pointing inwards. The right is a sustaining pedal, the left an una corda, so we may conclude that Americus Backers was the first to use the sustaining pedal and the una corda. Its number is 29.

1783

The typical compass for the piano was now six octaves, by this time the piano may be said to have taken over from the harpsichord in popularity.

1785

George Astor was established 73 Cornhill London, and closed down in 1810.

1786

John Geib invented the grasshopper action for square pianos while he was doing work for Longman & Broderip. According to "The Pianoforte" by Harding, he was an employee of Longman & Broderip. But "Early Keyboard Instruments" by James has Geib's business address from 1775 as "Old Bailey London" until he emigrated in 1798. The hopper hinged to the key with a spring to maintain position. An escapement screw passes through the hopper and the button is behind the hopper. The later sticker action for uprights was a development from this action.