English family of music publishers and instrument makers. Robert Wornum (i) (b? Berkshire, 1742; d London, 1815) was established in Glasshouse street, London (circa 1772-7), and then at 42 Wigmore Street (circa 1777-1815). He published many small books of dances and airs for the flute or violin, and was also a maker of violins and cellos. His son Robert Wornum (II) (b London, 1780; d London, 1852) went into partnership with George Wilkinson in a piano business in Oxford Street from 1810 to about 1813. Following his father’s death in 1815, he continued the family business making pianos, moving in 1832 to Store Street, Belford Square. He played an important role in developing small upright pianos which were acceptable as articles of drawing room furniture. Wornum invented the diagonally and vertically strung low upright pianos in 1811 and 1813, which he named respectively the ‘unique’ and the ‘harmonic’. He patented his actions and by 1828 had completed the development of his cottage piano action, which became very popular and was copied by Pape and Pleyel in their ‘pianino’. Further improvements followed, the most important being the tape-check action for upright pianos, patented in 1842 (number 9262) which facilitated rapid repetition and which remains the basis of modern upright actions. He also experimented with down-striking actions, including a down-striking tape-check action, a ‘pizzicato’ stop operated by a pedal, and with placing the above the sound board above the strings. His son A. N. Wornum succeeded him as head of the firm (by then Robert Wornum & Sons) and the business continued until 1900.
