Foundation Musick's Monument
Johnannes Zumpe, of German/Saxon origin, was born in June 1726 Fürth. He trained with Gottfried Silbermann. He was one of the German makers of keyboard instruments who fled to London at the time of the ‘Seven Years' War (1756 to 1763). He worked briefly for Burkat Shudi, before setting up his own shop “at the sign of the Golden Guittar” in Princes Street, Hanover Square, in 1761.
From 1769 until 24 September 1778, Zumpe was in partnership with Gabriel Buntebart. Meincke Meyer joined Zumpe in 1778. The business was taken over in 1783 by Frederick Schoene, who advertised his piano-making firm as "Successors to Johannes Zumpe".
Zumpe married Elizabeth Beeston on 3 December 1760. His will, dated 1784, gives his address as Queen Charlotte Row in the parish of St Mary-le-Bow.
Johann Christian Bach performed on a Zumpe instrument, and possibly acted as a sales agent for Zumpe pianos. Although most famous for his square pianos, other Zumpe instruments survive, including full-sized pianos, harpsichords, an English guitar of 1762, and a mandora of 1764.
