Copy of a ‘French’ model Ruckers harpsichord
Made in
Edinburgh by Grant O’Brien in 1985
Details about
the lid hardware
The hinges, lock and hasp used
for the lid of Ruckers harpsichords are very characteristic of their
instruments and of other objects of furniture made in Antwerp in the same
period. They are made from solid brass
sheet which is cut out and bent around the axles of the hinges and hasps. The lock has a brass front but the mechanism
behind the escutcheon is mostly of iron, the most important part being the
work-hardened iron spring that traps the hook of the hasp and that is released
by turning the key. The flap on the
hasp is spring loaded so that it pops open when the key is turned. The hinges, hasp and lock are all held in
place using short brass escutcheon pins driven into the wood of the case, lid
and front fall board.
All of the hardware for this
instrument was made by Grant O’Brien.
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