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Hi.
Somewhere between approx 1890 and 1910 according to family folk lore, my grandfather William Hull born County Essex 1875 "surposedly" was sent to London to do an apprenticeship, to become a Piano Tuner.

The information was told to me some 20 years ago by his eldest daughter born here in Australia ( my Aunt ) now deceased.

I had received a written letter from my Aunt back then, that her father, before immigrating from England to India, and then eventually to Australia, had been told that he did an Apprentice in London to become a piano tuner at a place called Broadfords or Broadbents ?

My grandfather was a Piano Tuner in India and Australia, according to his appointment diaries 1915 ( which i have ).

I have tried to "Google" both "Broadfords" and "Broadbents" London, to see if they exist or did once exist.


Was hoping someone familiar with London may be able to tell me if there were such place names or similar?


Thanks. Tony ( Australia )

I Googled and found this page which mentions a firm called Broadwood. Could that be the firm you mean? :-

http://www.uk-piano.org/history/piano-tuner-history.html

You will need to scroll down the page a bit to see where Broadwoods are mentioned (in the section titled "A Need for Tuners".

You may be able to find trade directories that mention the firm.

Have a look here too:-

http://www.uk-piano.org/broadwood/history.html

Kath. x

looks to be John Broadwood & Sons, Conduit St. London.
(advertisement states over 200 years of manufacturing and tuning pianos, which for perfection of tone and durability have never been equalled)

quite a bit in The Times Newspaper online...

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/borrower/join.asp
(free to join!)

Chris :)

Kath and Chris.

Thank you both for searching for me.

This appears to be the name of the place it seems.
I had a feeling that it at least had the word Broad.......something!

Broadwood or Broadwood & Sons

I will now check the web sites you gave.

Thank you both for your time.

Cheers. Tony..:>))