@odeharper blog
Embedded Files
Earl Linrud Thompson Fiberglass Harp c. 1958
Earl Linrud Thompson Fiberglass Harp c. 1958
Earl Linrud Thompson fiberglass harp pre-1960, fully bladed, silver fiberglass soundbox, neck and pillar maple. Undated. This harp was manufactured in Seattle, although many were made in Silver Springs, MD.
According to harpist Patricia Jaeger, she and Mildred Dilling were Mr Thompson's best customers, commissioning batches of these harps for their students. This model was used by Mildred Dilling in her limousine to warm up before performances.
According to harpist Patricia Jaeger, she and Mildred Dilling were Mr Thompson's best customers, commissioning batches of these harps for their students. This model was used by Mildred Dilling in her limousine to warm up before performances.
Soundbox, Rear view, Thompson Fiberglass Harp
Blade detail, Fiberglass Thompson Harp
Popular Mechanics clipping, Thompson 31 string (date unknown)
In the mid 1950's Ruth Linrud Thompson jokingly asked her son, who had studied engineering, drafting and forestry at the University of Washington, if he would make her a new and improved harp. He put his skills to use designing and crafting a durable harp using a sand-cast aluminum frame, a fiberglass soundbox, carefully designed blades for sharping levers, and replaced gut strings with nylon filament by the yard. (Chronicling America: Star Magazine, Wash. D.C., March 16, 1958.)
Earl Linrud Thompson made two models of fiberglass harp: this model and a small travel model that was sold through the Marshall Fields holiday toy catalog. Harpers of the era bought these as travel harps, because they were lightweight, durable, and fit in airplane overhead bins. They had 22 strings, no levers, weighed four pounds, and had fiberglass bodies sprayed in gold automotive paint, made by a boat building company in Ohio. (oral history via Patricia Jaeger)
#EarlLInrudThompsonHarp #RuthLinrudThompson #PatriciaJaeger #fiberglassharp #LinrudFamilyOrchestra #Edisonwaxcylinder #ThompsonMinstrelHarp #ThompsonTravelHarp
Above, Getty Images photo of Linrud Family Orchestra. Harpist Ruth Linrud (Thompson) was recorded by Thomas Edison on the wax cylinderhe invented, playing concert pedal harp. His comment to her was that if her gut strings had been made of composite material instead, the clarity of the recording would have been better.
Right, image of article from Chronicling America: Star Magazine, Wash. DC, March 16, 1958) Earl Linrud Thompson Fiberglass Harp
Right, image of article from Chronicling America: Star Magazine, Wash. DC, March 16, 1958) Earl Linrud Thompson Fiberglass Harp
Google Sites
Report abuse