H O W SKILLED ARTISANS FASHION A
Harps Are Made on West Side
Not in Heaven, As Some Think
I
Apollo Citharoc-
dus. An antique
statue showing
ancient use of
citlicr.
T SEEMS that harps, which arc usually associated with those
nebulous creatures with wings, aren't really made in heaven
after all—they're made right here in Chicago at 2509 West
Cermak road—in the only harp factory in the United States.
A visit to this unique plant, operated by Lyon & ilealy. which
has been creating harps out of wood and metal for the last fifty
years, discloses some unusual features about an industry which
originated when a warrior of some 3,000 years ago investigated
the twanging sound produced by his bow.
In the woodshop, presided over by Pete Heinrich. who has
been a harpmaker since he emigrated to this country from Hun-
gary 28 years ago, several craftsmen, artisans all. slowly trans-
form expensive wood into harps.
GRAIN
IS
PERFECT
"Hear this," said Mr. 1 leinrich as he expertly tapped an almost
completed sounding board, which looked like a glorified ironing
board. The tone, round and full, rose and fell with his finger.
"No sour note there," he said. "It wouldn't do that if the grain
wasn't perfect."
"It takes about two months to build a harp," said Mr. Hein-
rich, glancing around his domain, which was filled with harps in
all stages of completion among the steaming glue pots. "The
wood in the sounding board, which projects the tone, is seasoned
from eight to ten years," he said. "It's really the heart of the
harp."
Opposite Mr. Heinrich's bench is his son Joe, who is being
"broken in" to the art of harpmaking. Joe is working on what
looks like a cubist's dream. It's all sharp, cruel angles, in strik-
ing contrast to the rounded grace of the others. "It's a mod-
ernistic bar]) by special order." explains Joe, "being built for
Carlos Salzedo. the great Masque harpist."
ELDERLY MEX AT WORK
Lovers of harp music may find interesting a trip through Lyon and
Hcaly's factory at 250V West Cermak Road, where their favorite
instrument is made in the only harp factory in this country. The
first step is the rough carving. Frank Langoush is the man at work.
Tn the same room are several other men, most of them elderlv.
bent over their work, one sanding down the fine curvature of the
"neck," another speedily twisting dozens of wooden clamps in
the process of glueing the sound box together.
Each man works on two harps at a time. Most of them have
been working at their unusual trade for more than two decades.
In the final testing room works Joseph Blaha, who just observed
his 28th anniversarv with the factorv.
Peter I leinrich (right), foreman of the woocki'orking department,
who has been a harp maker for 28 years, instructs his son Joseph,
an apprentice, in the fine points of the craft. The body and neck
of the harp are made of strong resilient wood seasoned for many
years.
Sz'cii Pedersen hand polishes the wood, a time-honored method of
proofing the wood parts to prevent the absorption of oil.
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