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From: Sheryl Katzke
Production: JHG2008
Date: 9/23/2008
Time: 4:36:04 PM
Thanks Gordon, I sent an email to Dr Kimball and received a nice reply. To add a few things from Dr Kimball. "J. R. Smith harps as among the best ever made in America, and as a New York State product. John R. Smith came from England to Rensselaer County, New York (along the east bank of the Hudson River more or less opposite Albany) in 1881. He made jewsharps out of Rensselaer until his death in 1912, at which point two sons, William & John took up the business until the early 1960s, still using the original stamp "J. R. Smith." The earlier instruments were made using a cast frame produced by an iron works in Troy. At some point, in the 1930s, we think, the iron works went out of business and the Smiths went to bending square steel rods for the frames. This is what I think you have. It was this design as produced by the Smiths which influenced later American makers,....Most of the Smith harps play well - they're my favorites. The name stamp doesn't always show clearly and I'm sure that is what you have, and the arms are longer than the Whitlows. The date would most likely be from the 1930s into the early 60s."