The smaller virginals and spinets were commonly found in homes of modest means, as well as in royal courts. This polygonal virginal has six split keys which represent a complicated tuning scheme. [Illustration: 21. Tuning scheme.] Keys 1-2: This is a system of short-octave tuning (see Ruckers Virginal) in which the two lowest accidentals are split into two sections. The back section is tuned to the apparent accidental, the front section to the short octave. Thus, on the Boni, the back section of the bottom split key is tuned F♯, the front section is tuned D; the back section of the second lowest split key is tuned A♭, the front section is tuned E. Keys 3-6: The top four keys are split to provide for enharmonic tuning—that is, both D♭ and E♭, G♯ and A♭. In the meantone system of tuning, which was the prevailing tuning of the time, scales distant from the key of C were often out of tune. To improve the intonation of these scales, some makers divided some of the accidental keys to provide alternate tunings. [Illustration: 19. Boni virginal: Full view.] [Illustration: 20. Boni virginal: Plan view.] [Illustration: 21. Boni virginal: View of keyboard. _Photo: Robert Lautman_.] _English Harpsichords_ In the 18th century, London became a center of harpsichord making. The two most important makers, Jacob Kirckman and Burkat Shudi, were Swiss immigrants who first apprenticed with Hermann Tabel, a Flemish harpsichord maker who had also emigrated to England. In America, where English culture was highly regarded, Thomas Jefferson owned a Kirckman harpsichord, Francis Hopkinson a Shudi and Broadwood. The heavy cases of the typical English instruments were veneered in walnut, mahogany, and later satinwood, and rested on trestle stands. The usual range was five octaves: FF-f³ for harpsichords; GG-g³ for spinets (and organs). In general, the sound produced on an English harpsichord is more thick and lush than the sound of instruments from other European centers. Spinet, _about 1710; made by Thomas Hitchcock, London One manual; Range GG-g³; 1×8′_ The spinet, a member of the harpsichord family, was a popular domestic keyboard instrument in England and America during the 18th century and was mentioned in many American diaries and inventories of that time. The spinet often served as the keyboard instrument for the household that could not afford or did not have room for the harpsichord or organ. The Hitchcock family supplied many spinets for early 18th-century gentility. Note in Figure 24 the handsome brass hinges, one of many examples of the beautiful hardware used by English builders. This instrument is quilled with crow quill, the most common material used for plectra at that time. A detail of the jacks and stringing is shown in Figure 1. [Illustration: 22. Hitchcock spinet: Full view and nameboard.] [Illustration: 23. Hitchcock spinet: Plan view.] [Illustration: 24. Hitchcock spinet: Top view. _Photo: Robert Lautman_.]