The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-09
The Jew sharp.

unpaluIeu CldpUOaruo uIo oio"h "hu
weather-b beaten. A few feet above the
sidewalk is the picture of a gigantic
iewsharp, and below it is the name of
John Andrews. Going up rickety
flight of stairs to the second story, a Sun
reporter entered the small front room,
and there found John Andrews, maker
of iewsharps, surrounded by the imple-
ments of his art. For it is an art to
make good harps, as Mr.. Andrews will
tell YOU. There are only two men in the
United States, it is said, that can make
them. and there are those who say that
Mr.. Andrews himself is the only man
who can be rightly called an artist in the
business. He is smooth faced, slender
man, with keen gray eyes and gray hair
that curls upon his head, not at all un-
like the hair in the portraits of Lord
Byron.
"Jewsharps,' said Mr.. Andrews,
"jewsharps. Eyes, sir; know as much
about them as any man in America, and
more, think, for am the only maker
in America. At least have been there
for many years. But l am informed
that there is man in Thirty sixth street
that is doing something in it. l don't
know who he is. NY grandfather and
my father were makers of jewsharps in
Belfast, and 1 and my two brothers
learned the trade as we'll in my fathers
shop. NV two brothers are in Belfast
now making harps, and my father IS In
Dublin; but he is an old man, and does
little at it, although he has shop. In
1852 l came to this city with kit OF
tools. l found q clear field for my
work There was not a harp maker IN
the city or the country, nor was there
much demand for harps. 1t was slow
work for some time. l rented little
shop in Varick street, and little by little
began to get work. After time l had
all that could do, and business contin
ued good until the panic OF '73. 1
STAYED in Varick street thirteen years,
and then moved to SO North Avenue,
where stayed fourteen years. I'd be
there now, probably, but the building
was pulled down, and came here
What is the origin of the lewsharp?"
Il can't tell you, sir" said the jews
harp man. Il have never seen man
that could. My father had small book
on harps, but it didn't give the informa-
ton. All that know is that it has been
favorite instrument in Ireland for many
years. l remember long ago to have
seen a famous painting by Collins. rep
resenting an Irisbman dlaylng the Jews
harp. The best players that have ever
heard were Irishmen. In fact, about the
only special customers l have are Irish
men. I mean those who order expensive
harps."
''What do you call expensive harps?"
1.-The most expensive l ever made l
sold for So pair. Here's pair that l
have just made for special customer,
but they are only worth 81 to the pair"
Mr. Andrews carefully unrolled a small
package, in which were two large jews
harps He placed both to his lips with
the tongues facing each other, and, hold
ing one with each hand, struck the
thongues with his little fingers. The
harps were in unison. That's the way
they are played, said the jewsharpma-
ker. The best of players want pair
of harps tuned in unison. Then they
play with their little fingers. can make
a harp in any key, tune two harps in
unison, and can't play tune to save me.
How do change the key? Easy enough.
Either by bending the tongues or chang
ing the tips of the tongues. I'll file one
a little, See. Now listen" He struck
the harps. The one whose tip he had
filed was a quarter of tone sharper
than the other. Then he filed the other
. bit, and they were again in unison"
Easy enough, you see, he said. ''In
fact, it is too easy to change the tone.
Bending the tongue will do it, and when
q player strikes too hard he bends the
tongue, and then the unison is destroyed.
He bends it back perhaps little too far.
Its as bad as ever, only the other way,
and the first thing he knows the
tongue is broken. And now you ask
what are my regular prices? They range
from fifteen cents to Sl.25 apiece, and
you can't get gross any less than that.
The difference in price is due to differ
ence in size and finish. Some people,
you know, want the most expensive
things always; want silver-plated frames
and gold tipped tongues. That's all
foolishness. A shoemaker's wax for a
tip is quite as good as bit of gold. But
if q man wants gold I'll give it to him
and charge him for it. You didn't think
jewsharps we're so expensive? You prob
ably have in your mind the toy concerns
that you can find in every store and can
buy for o cent apiece. They are not
made here, but in Germany and Eng
land. Birminghom turns them out by
the barrelful. l never make such harps.
My cheapest harp is the fifteen cent one,
with timed frame, and l sell more of