It is not known when or where Americus Backers was born but it is thought his parents were Dutch. The details of his origins seem to be hidden from official record, but by the time of his death in 1778, he had left his signature, as it were, on the unfolding story of piano manufacture.
Americus moved to Freiberg and was apprenticed to Gottfried Silbermann, the organ, harpsichord and piano builder. Silbermann set up his organ workshop in 1711 and by 1730 was building harpsichords and pianos in both square, and harpsichord cases. Americus is likely to have arrived between 1720 and 1725 but no date can be thought definite.
Twelve ex-apprentices from Silbermann’s workshop came to England about 1760 and began building pianos. Americus Backers, among the first to arrive, brought Silbermann's Cristofori-type action and refined it to produce a reliable and responsive version which he fitted to a grand harpsichord case. This new, groundbreaking piano was a great turning point in the story of keyboard instruments, the harpsichord’s days were numbered, as Americus’s gift to English music became the blueprint for what we recognise as the modern grand piano!Backers Action 1777
The eleven other ‘apostles’ also established themselves as piano builders though they favoured the square piano. Most well-known was Johannes Zumpe.
1763 Americus’s moved his home and workshop to Jermyn Street, London. John Broadwood and Robert Stodart, both apprentices to Burkat Shudi would often visit Americus in the evenings to help his work on perfecting the escapement feature on his action.
To conclude, the Backers ‘piano in a harpsichord case’ was the first of what was to become known as the 18th Century English grand piano. There is no exact date for the very first instrument to be offered for sale but its earliest appearance in public was in 1770.
In 1776, Americus had perfected his action as far as he could he take it - simplifying and improving the best features of the Cristofori action. His principles were used as the model for the English action.
Americus Backers died at his home in Jermyn Street, London in 1778. His contribution to the development of piano construction was of the utmost significance.
©Steve Burden
