I've worked on many of these instruments. WHat would you like to know? I
can give you a repair man's perspective.
Wurlitzer harps are not significently different from Lyon & Healy harps of
the same era except for two details. 1) A much better structure at the
base 2) They don't make them any more.
In fact they used many of Lyon & Healy's harp inventions after their
patents expired.
If its a good I would advise you to deal buy it. I've had many people ask
me to try to find them Wurlitzer harps, and there is no small pedal harp
of that quality being built today.
Please ask questions if you want a techinician's perspective.
Two historical notes: When Wurlitzer was establishing harp production
they asked James F. Buckwell the esteemed harpbuilder from New York City
(Brown & Buckwell) to be their production manager. He refused, not
wanting to give up his independance.
When Wurlitzer closed harp production their stock was purchased by
Melville Clark. Clark also hired the Wurlitzer production Manager (and
perhaps others) with the intention of building pedal harps himself. There
is at least one CLark pedal harp made from left over Wurlitzer parts.
Unfortunately Mr Clark died and Clark Music Company went out of the harp
business without Melville Clark"s direction.
I've lost track of who has the Clark Pedal harp. Does any one know who
has it?
Good luck with the Wurlitzer
Arsalaan
On Fri, 17 Jan 1997, Cynthia Lynn Douglass wrote:
> I'm interested in an old Worlitzer pedal harp, built around 1919, gilded,
> 44 strings, that is for sale. Do any of you know anything about these
> harps, or have one?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cynthia
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> * Cynthia Lynn Douglass
> *||* * Celtic harper, teacher, recording artist, seller of harps
> *||| **||* Celestial Sounds
> *|||||||||* P.O. Box 3325 * Augusta, GA * 30914-3325
> *|||||||* (706) 733-HARP * (888) 299-HARP
> *|||||* HARPY@np2.mcg.edu
> *|||*
> [[]] "The harp is the silver thread between us and the angels."
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>