When was FOOT damper pedal invented

[linda_dawn]

Mozart had a fortepiano with "knee damper" in 1777. But when was the FOOT operated damper pedal first used?  Thanks.

[stevebob]

According to Joseph Banowetz (in The Pianist’s Guide to Pedaling, which is freely downloadable online to anyone who registers at the Indiana University Press website), the knee lever actually dates back to around 1765 on German pianos.  He states that a foot-controlled mechanism with a cleft pedal was introduced in 1777 by Adam Beyer in London, providing separate control of bass and treble groups of dampers.  Various split-pedal systems were superseded by our familiar single-pedal damper control around 1830, though Banowetz doesn’t elaborate on which maker(s) first introduced it.

[keyboardclass]

Thanks for the  Indiana University Press link Steve.  Even up to 1800 Broadwood was selling pianos with the pedal as a few guineas extra.

[linda_dawn]

Thank you so much for your helpful responses.

- Linda