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Two-manual harpsichord from Hubbard kit,1970-1971
John S. Allen In the fall of 1968, I had already come up with the basic idea of the Notebender Keyboard -- longitudinal key motion toward and away from the player. But before I could think of building a prototype Notebender, I needed some experience with keyboard instrument building. I built this two-manual French baroque harpsichord from a kit I bought from Frank Hubbard, of Waltham, Massachusetts. I received much good advice from my former professor at Middlebury College, George Todd, a harpsichordist. It was with George that I made the trip from Middlebury down to Waltham to buy the kit. The soundboard painting was by artist Heddi Siebel, at the time a Middlebury student. All in all, the harpsichord was quite a success. I even sent a list of comments on construction details to Hubbard which elicited a nice letter in return from him. Still, if I had the job to do again, I would go with a natural wood finish. Painting and wet sanding the case were at least a third of the work. And there is one visible construction mistake in the photo below. Can you see it? It was easily corrected shortly after the photo was taken. |
The harpsichord on display and in use, summer of 1971, at The Barn, studio of Philo Records, North Ferrisburg, Vermont. | |
Frank Gohlke photo |
In building the harpsichord, I also built my confidence in taking my own initiative and seeing a large project through. When I finished the harpsichord, I left it with Bill Schubart at his Philo Records studio in North Ferrisburg, Vermont. Within a few months, I sold it to the Knopf family of Winchester, Massachusetts. Several years later, they sold it. I do not know where it is now. If you know, I would be interested to find out. |
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