1. A single manual Harpsichord based on a Joannes Dulcken built in Antwerp in 1747, now in the Vleeshuis in Antwerp. The range is FF-f³, 61 notes. This instrument has three registers: 2 x 8 and 1 x 4 with a transposer block.
2. A single manual Harpsichord based on a Joannes Bull built in Antwerp in 1779, now in the Vleeshuis in Antwerp. The range is FF-f³, 61 notes. This instrument has three registers: 2 x 8 and 1 x 4 with a transposer block.
3. A double manual Harpsichord based on a Joannes Dulcken built in Antwerp in 1745, now in the Smithsonian Institution. The range is FF- f³, 61 notes. This instrument has three registers: 1 x 8, 1 x 4 on the lower manual; 1 x 8 on the upper manual with a shove coupler.
The construction on the two 18th Century singles is fairly light which results in a bright, responsive sound! I have made many of these instruments with varying types of Flemish decoration. My favorite is based on a double manual Dulcken in a private collection in Dilbeek, Belgium.
The Bull and Dulcken singles are almost exactly the same size and shape with the exception of a double curve to the bentside. These are the instruments of choice of many top players!
The cases are poplar with spruce framing and white oak wrestplanks. The soundboards are European spruce. All of these instruments have reverse keyboards with ebony covering the natural keys and accidentals of solid ebony topped with cowbone. The jacks and tongues are European beech. The upper and lower guides are wood. The instruments have transposer blocks beside the keyboards so that both low pitch (a=415 Hz) and modern pitch (a=440 Hz) are available.
The cased are painted one or two colours and decorated in a variety of ways. A trestle stand with turned legs is provided. Case decorations and soundboard paintings and borders are executed by Olga Tomlinson K.
