Italian Harpsichord, C. 1620 in Russell

 -Italian harpsichord, c. 1620 in Russell, Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments, Edinburgh-


The city or region where an anonymous instrument was made can be determined by analysing the size of measurement unit. 


Until Napoleon invaded to the Italian Peninsula, the major cities in Italy used its own measurement units, and the size of these units was varied from place to place.


Thus, the braccio, piede, canna, palmo, etc. And their subdivision into the oncia, soldo or pollice were the characteristic of the major areas where instrument and all other items were built.


So if one can determine the unit of measurement which was used in the design and construction of instrument, one can know the origin of the main areas through these units.


According to a number of reference works on metrology, the palmo, had a length of 261.01 mm, was divided into 12 units, it's resulted in 21.835mm. 


Other length of the canna, was 2096.10mm, was divided into 96 units so that these two results are measured in two different ways, but they are the same size of the unit.


In conclusion, The builder who makes instruments worked with convenient and fraction of his local units.


Also, This therefore suggests that Naples is the center area in which this harpsichord was built. 

Link:

http://www.claviantica.com/Neap_sch_files/Cen_Russ.htm




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