Chicago, ca. 1908
This concert harp has 45 strings and 7 pedals, each corresponding to a different note of the musical scale. When the player presses a pedal, small discs at the top of the harp rotate, allowing the pitch to change from flat, to natural, to sharp, making it possible to play in any key,
adding more notes to the natural set of strings.
Emil Starke was a reputable harp builder who was hired away by the Wurlitzer Company from another prominent builder, Lyon & Healy. The “Starke model” concert harp came with great improvements to the models already established at Wurlitzer.
This harp includes the name “Meyer” with Starke’s but there is no information on record of Meyer’s identity. Its unique features suggest that it was likely built just before Starke went to Wurlitzer in 1909. Quite unlike the earlier Lyon & Healy harp models, this instrument appears to
be a one-of-kind model.
Donated by William Harmon 1992
