Broadwoods were known to cater to the tastes of their customers, and altered tuning pitch according to whether the instrument was to be used for voice accompaniment or for "instrumental only" use. They were very popular indeeed, and did a lot of R&D into making a bigger, better sound. In fact, they still do, and they are still popular. They even have a website, for us to putter around in...check out the history section and just look at the development of this biggest of all instruments (except one!) in JA's time.....