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Object Record
Images
Metadata
Item ID# |
993.009.002a/b |
Object Name |
Autoharp |
Year Range from |
1895 |
Year Range to |
1931 |
Description |
One autoharp and key. a) Autoharp - harp-shaped, light brown wood for soundboard, darker brown wood for sides and back, soundboard has 2 thin lines of black curling around the edge, bridges (2 - one at bottom of soundboard, one before tuning pegs) are a dark wood with a metal rod for a nut, tuning pegs are square-headed and metal, small pins on right side of strings in upper bridge to hold strings in place, 31 wire strings (11 lowest strings are wound), pins on base of autoharp where strings are tied, mechanism for dampening strings across lower half of soundboard with black round-headed pins that operate red felt dampers underneath a raised wooden black box above the strings, top of dampening box has a gold label with black lettering, indicating which button creates which chords, strings are named and numbered on a gold label below dampening box on directly on the soundboard, gold label at top of soundboard reads "REX AUTOHARP THE BEST FOR TONE MANUFACTURED BY THE R.S. WILLIAMS & SONS CO., LIMITED. TORONTO CANADA" b) Autoharp Key - key for turning tuning mechanisms on autoharp, round hole in end of key to fit over tuning pegs, 2 circles (1 small, 1 large) on either side of key head, large "G" engraved in metal in between circles. |
Maker's mark |
The Rex Autoharp was manufactured by R.S. Williams Ltd., located at 143 Yonge St. Toronto, Canada. They were an instrument building and sales firm established by Richard Sudgeon Williams (1834-1906), making mandolins, banjos, and mandolins, as well as selling pianos and other instruments. In 1873 they were assumed by the Canada Organ and Piano Co. and in 1889 they moved to Oshawa, Ontario, keeping Toronto as their headquarters. In 1888 they were renamed R.S. Williams & Son, and in 1895, R.S. Williams & Sons. The factory in Oshawa closed in 1931, and the warehouse followed c.1951-1952. |
Provenance |
This autoharp originally belonged to Robert Harper (1888-1962) who was born on Lot 35, Concession 13, Elderslie Township. Rob (as he was known) had a keen ear music and one of his specialties was playing the mouth organ mounted on a device her made and wore around his neck to hold the mouth organ in place while cording on the autoharp to make his own accompaniment. His daughter, Mildred E. Harper Wells, was also gifted with an ear for music and inherited the autoharp upon Robert's death. |
Dimensions |
H-3.937 W-11.811 L-20.472 inches |
Lexicon category |
6: T&E For Communication |
Search Terms & Subjects |
Music |
Places |
Elderslie Township |