Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-05-16
WHERE JEwsHAaps ARE MADE.

WTGfG JEW SHFhTS NNG .P~OC.
a Family az Smiths Do All the M2na-
featuring Outside Of Ss~ York.
The village Of Bath-on- the Hudson,
though its manufacturing interests are
few, can boast Of possessing the only
jewsharp factory in the United States
outside OF New York city. Simple as
the jewsharp is, it requires, nevertheless.
no little skill in construction.
The proprietor OF the factory in Bath
is John Smith, and he has perfected him
self to such an extent that his work is
recognized rs among the best in the
world. The factory is n small building
situated n short distance off Third street,
and although unpretentous contains
every facility for the manufacture of
jewsharps.
Twenty years ago, in England. Mr..
Smith began his apprenticeship at the
trade. Hearing from friends in this
country that here would be found a
better market for the sale of his spe-
cialty, he determined 10 einisrate. Ar
irving III New York he failed to secure
employment, and deciding TO start in
business for himself he went to Troy
and opened n factory there. He WAS
hut moderately successful in Troy, and
after 4 snort tiine moved TO Bath. built
factory and is perfectly satisfied with
the location. The Smith jewsharp is
sold principally to firms in New York,
Boston and Chicago. These firms sell
the goods TO retailers throughout the
United States.
When the factory is running at it,
fullest capacity over two gross day are
turned out. The busiest time Of the
year is that just preceding the holidays.
During this season the factory employs
Ave people-the proprietor, his two sons
and two other Englishmen. who live
near the factory.
The manufacture Of the "harps" Is an
interesting process, and but few people
are aware of the large amount Of work
expended in makinga jewsharp Of good
tone The frames of the instrument are
not made by Mr.. Smith. He buys them
from foundry. Upon these frames is
bestowed the least work; it is in setting
the steel tongue in the frame and fling
the lower portion of the frame to fit the
tongue that the most care and sldn are
required.
The first work done On jewshsrp Is
to place the frame in a wise, file off the
roughness and taper down the points. 80
that each side presents q sharp edge, BE-
tween which the tongue is TO vibrate
The MOI delicate work then begins A
piece of steel wire is cut from a coil,
hammered fiat ut one end and left round
at the other, and tempered with the
greatest care. The fiat end is then set
in the arc of the frame, and then the two
ends are carefully pressed and ham.
mered until they come as close as pos
sible to the tongue without touching it.
The round end of the tongue is then
bent in the form Of right angle, the
point is turned over. and the harp" is
ready 70 be placed in the hands Of
tinisher. There are seven sizes and four
kinds of fnishing-the common, gold
bronze, lacquered and tin plated. The
harp can be toned 10 any pitch. To make
the tone high the tongue is made small
dii lfcSScu ptCh tcNdRh tIC 1Eduicf IA
make the tone lower it is bent forward.
Mr.. Smith is not only good maker of
Che harp, but can extract quite little
music from the little instrument He
can also play two at once, which he
tunes 50 that they are i'll harmony, by
fling the frames.
When business is rushing Mr. Smiths
whole family is pressed into service, and
each member e1cels in his or her particu-
lar work. Mr.. Smith prophesies that
within few years the instruments he
makes will be in more general use than
now. He has once enlarged his factory,
and expects to do SO agsin.-Albany
Journal.