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From: Gordon Frazier
Production: JHG2008
Date: 9/22/2008
Time: 4:32:51 PM
It must be a J.R. Smith instrument with a couple of letters worn off. Take care of it! They are becoming hard to find. Here's a post from George on mudcat.org that sounds about right: >> >>JR Smith emigrated from the English midlands to Troy, NY, USA in the 19th cent. (post-Civil War, as I recall) to become one of the pre-eminent makers of jews harps in the US. He was a maker in England before then, I believe. His products are varied and generally really good. His nephews carried on in Troy into the 20th century. >>Although I play JH, and live near Troy, NY, I owe everything I just wrote to Jim Kimball (Dr. James Kimball, State Univ. of NY at Genese NY). I reckon you could reach Jim through the University website, and might find a connection. >>George >>> So there you go. I myself ended up with a couple of my grandfather's J.R. Smith harps. He was born in Minnesota in 1890 but the family moved to Idaho when he was still a toddler. Hope any of that was helpful. Gordon