Tech From the 1700s: History's Best Sellers

Extra! Extra! Step right up to inspect the definitive collection of first-rate tech releases from 1700s. Discover the genuine articles of American ingenuity that captured the public's fancy and won nationwide acclaim during this historic era.

1. The Piano, Pianoforte, Gravicembalo col piano e forte

   Released in 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori, Medici Family

   Invented in Florence, Italy, at the turn of the 18th century, the piano revolutionized western music by bridging the gap between dynamic control and acoustic volume. Originally called the gravicembalo col piano e forte ("harpsichord with soft and loud"), it allowed players to seamlessly vary their volume based on the force applied to the keys—a feat impossible on the widely used harpsichord.