Phonoharp Company Explained

The Phonoharp Company (1892[1]  - 1928[2]) was an American manufacturer of musical instruments based in Boston, Massachusetts. Among the instruments the company was known for was the autoharp, whose design they acquired from Alfred Dolge in 1910; they later merged with Oscar Schmidt (who would become the primary American producers of autoharps) in 1926.[3] [4] The company was also known for producing other instruments, namely the guitar zither, mandolin zither, celestaphone, and the ukelin.[5]

Among its employees who would go on to their own success was Henry Charles Marx, inventor of the Marxophone.[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.roncookstudios.com/assets/naomi-pye-psaltery-repair-log.pdf Restoration of 1885-1890 Phonoharp Company Harp Celest
  2. Book: Experimental Musical Instruments. 1993. Experimental Musical Instruments. 35.
  3. Book: Earl Martin Pedersen. Three hundred greatest folk songs of the American people. 1990. Stampa Centro "Aquilone". 21.
  4. Book: Thurston Moore. The Country Music Who's who. 1965. Heather Publications. xxxviii.
  5. Book: The Old-time Herald: A Magazine Dedicated to Old-time Music. 1992. Old-Time Music Group. 31.