The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109932   Message #2302828
Posted By: The Fooles Troupe
31-Mar-08 - 10:40 PM
Thread Name: Autoharp Refurbishment: Oscar Schmidt
Subject: RE: Autoharp Refurbishment: Oscar Schmidt
WYSIWYG I aibn;t gona let no STRONG OX get anywhere near this autoharp - :-)

Still looking if anyone can identify the rough age or model from the following description

QUOTE
I can find no real identifying marks, but it is a 36 note from F to C - 3 1/2 octaves - 15 bars in 'STANDARD' layout, but it has no strap buttons, it has 3 feet, hard like bakelite, not soft rubber, a round sound-hole, and the bars are covered by a brown thin plastic cover (part cover the sound hole) - attached with 4 screws at the sides of the bar box.

I has a broken string, but I think the strings are sufficiently rusty for a complete set replacement.

The pins and other metal fittings are all rusty spotted, but I cannot other wise age it, the wood body seems in remarkable condition, with a nice clear 'thunk' from a tap. The colour is a partly blonde colour on the back, darkening around the edges.

The buttons are white with black lettering - semicircular on 'top' and 'bottom', straight on the 'sides'. The strings are each lettered in white near each tuning pin.

All it says on the body is (script) Autoharp (the Reg r in a circle) and under it 'Oscar Schmidt' - all in white.

I'm guessing it could be about 1950-60 sorta... from the plastic bars cover...
UNQUOTE