1 Inscriptions
2 Brief description
3 Case
4a Keyboard
4b Action
5 Strings and scalings
6 Decoration
7 History of earlier states and restorations
8 Commentary
9 Provenance 1 Inscriptions
2 printed paper labels glued to inside of lid: central, large label entitled ‘IMPORTANT GENERAL DIRECTIONS.’ gives instructions for operation of the instrument; a smaller rectangular label in top right hand corner is a warranty: ‘WARRANTEE. \ This Virgil Practice Clavier, No. 5908, made by us, \ is hereby warranted for the term of FIVE YEARS from date, and should it \ with proper care and use prove defective in materials or workmanship within \ that time, we agree to put the same in good repair at the manufactory or \ replace with another. We do not warrant this instrument against extreme heat or dampness. \ New York, 189 \ (signed) \ THE VIRGIL PRACTICE CLAVIRE CO \ 26 WEST 15TH STREET.’; top of nameboard, top of left-hand end and back of keyboard flap marked with metal die stamp: ‘5908’; top of spine marked with metal die stamp: ‘F.AVRIL.’ and ‘113’; front of nameboard: to the right of centre in gold lettering with black edges: ‘VIRGIL \ PERFECTED \ Practice Clavier. \ NEW YORK’; in the centre: ‘PATENTED JUNE 29 . 1888 . \ ” ” OCT . 23 . 1888 . \ ” ” JULY 19 . 1892’; to the left of centre: key resistance scale marked with calibrations from 2 to 20 ounces, those for 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 20 marked in Arabic numerals; beneath the scale: ‘DO NOT USE THE UP CLICKS \ BEYOND 5 OUNCES.’
2 Brief description
A practice piano without strings with adjustable sprung and weighted keys.
3 Case
Height: 205
Spine: 1345 long, 1370 with baseboard moulding, 1308 inside; 19.7 thick
Right hand end: 456.5 long, 468 with baseboard moulding; 20.2 thick
Left-hand end: 456 long, 470 with baseboard moulding; 20.5 thick
Baseboard: 32.7 thick
Main lid: 1372 long, 2552 wide, 16.9 thick; keyboard section 17.6 thick, panelled with turned handle in centre of front; lock in centre of front; inner cover: frame and panel lid
Brassware: butt hinges (2 on main lid); chain at either end of lid; hold down-hook on each end
Stand: two pairs of hinged square tapered legs; height from floor to upper surface of naturals: 705
4a Keyboard
Compass: A1 to c5, 88 notes
Keyboard width at natural fronts: 1224; average 3-octave span: 495
Naturals: plastic covers in 1 piece; head length: 45.5; natural fronts: plastic
Sharp blocks: ebony; length at base: 89
Levers: right hand end of keyboard: for the ‘DOWN-CLICKS’, move to right engages; left hand end for the ‘UP-CLICKS’, move to left engages; central handle in centre of nameboard controls the weight of the key, clockwise rotation increases ‘WEIGHT OF TOUCH’
4b Action
A system of spring- and weight-loaded keys to imitate the sensations of playing a piano. Each keylever has two springs on its upper surface, one a fixed horizontal wire near the player and the other, nearer the tail, is a vertical wire bearing on a screw-adjustable beam spanning the action. In addition suspended above the end of each keytail is an adjustable weight set up so that there is 'lost motion' before it is lifted. Rising and falling back and front touch rails are fitted under the keylevers, which are controlled by levers in the keyblocks. These rails can introduce an audible click at either the top or bottom of the key travel.
5 Stringing and Scalings
There are no strings.
6 Decoration
The case is of bass-wood stained and the top edges of the keywell cheeks are decorated with fluting, as are the front faces of the legs.
7 History of earlier states and restorations
The instrument is essentially in its original state except for general wear and tear and the replacement of the cord between the weight of touch handle and the right hand end of the weight of touch scale.
8 Commentary
This is a relatively complex practice keyboard. The spring-loading of the touch is adjustable and the weights with 'lost motion' attempt to imitate the sensation of playing a piano action. ‘A third feature was a clicking sound available on the down-and/or up-stroke of each key to develop proper timing and key release.’ (Dorothea A Nahm & Robert E Sheldon, ‘The Virgil Practice Clavier’, The Encyclopaedia of the Piano (London & New York: Garland, 1996), pp.429–32).
The Virgil Practice Clavier was marketed and patented by Almon Kincaid Virgil (1839 or 42 to 1921) as an adjunct to his pedagogical method.
9 Provenance
Gift of Miss Nicola Moxham, July 1995.
