English action

English action piano action developed by Americus Backers in England, probably in 1772, from that of Bartolommeo Cristofori and Gottfried Silbermann, in which the hammer is not connected with the key, as in the Vienna action, but pivoted to a hammer rail. The hammer points away from the player. A jack inserted in the key provides (single) escapement. This type of action was adopted by Broadwood later in the c. and became the preferred action of Brit. makers. Cf. German action, Vienna action…