The Saline County journal., 1891-06-18
WHERE JEwsHARPs ARE MADE.

A Family Of Smiths DO All the Mann
| featuring Outside OF New York.
The village Of Bath-On-the- Hudson
though its manufacturing interests an
few, can boast Of possessing the only
jewsharp factory in the United State
outside Of New York city. Simple a
the jewsharp Is, 1t requires. nevertheless
no little skill in construction.
The proprietor Of the factory in Batl
Is John Smith, and he has perfected him
self 30 such an extent that - work Il
recognized as among the hest in th,
world. The factory Is n small building
situated n short distance of Third street
and although unpretentiOus contain,
every facility for the manufacture oI
jewsharps.
Twenty years ago, in England. Mr.
Smith began his apprenticeship at the
trade. Hearing from friends in thi.
country that here would be found a
better market for the sale Of his spe.
cialty, he determined TO emigrate. Ar.
irving in New York he failed to secure
employment, and deciding TO start in
business for himself he went TO Troy
and opened q factory there. He was
but moderately successful in Troy. and
after a short time 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 its
fullest capacity over two grOss n day are
turned out. The busiest time Of the
year Is that just preceding the holidays.
During this season the factory employs
five 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: IL is in setting
the steel tongue in the frame and filing
the lower portion Of the frame to fit the
tongue that the most care and skill are
required.
The first work done on q jewsharp is
30 place the frame in q wise, file OF the
roughness and taper down the points, 30
that each side presents q sharp edge. be-
tween which the tongue Is TO vibrate.
The moS delicate work then begins. A
piece Of steel wire is cut from q coil,
hammered fat at one end and left round
at the other, and tempered with the
greatest care. The fat end IL then set
In the src of the frame. and then the two
ends are carefully pressed and ham
mered until they come as close as pos
sible 30 the tongue without touching IL.
The round end Of the tongue Il then
bent In the form Of q right angle, the
point Il turned over, and the "harp- IL
ready to be placed in the hands Of .
finisher. There are seven sises and four
kinds Of inishing-the common. gold
brunse, lscquered and tin plated. The
harp can be toned 10 any pitch To make
the tone high the tongue is made small
and pressed back toward the frame; 20
make the tone lower Il h bent forward.
Mr.. Smith Il not only . good maker Of
the harp, but can extract quite . little
music from the little instrument He
can also play two at once, which he
tunes 20 that they are IN harmony, by
fling the frames.
When business Il rushing Mr.. Smiths
whole family h pressed into service, and
Zach member excels In his or her particu-
lar work Mr.. Smith prophesies that
within few years the instruments he
makes win Be In more general ase than
Row. BE hss once enlarged his factory,
and expscts 10 do 70 asain.-Albany |
journal