The Manufacturing
Process
Making the wooden components
• 1 Boards of spruce, maple, beech, and other woods are received by the harpmaker and inspected. In order to perfectly match the grain of harp with a natural finish, boards of wood all from the same tree may be received together. The boards are then stored for about six months to become adjusted to the local climate in order to avoid any future problems with splitting or cracking.
• 2 Power woodcutting machines cut the boards into rough approximations of the pieces needed. More detailed shaping of these pieces is done with hand held woodcutting tools. Harpmakers learn their craft in a series of apprenticeships. New workers build the base of the harp, then go on to learn the skills needed to build the body and the soundboard. Only the most experienced harpmakers work on the column and the neck. Many thin layers of wood are glued together under pressure to foim wooden parts which are stronger than solid wood. The various wooden parts are then stored to await assembly.
Making the metal components
• 3 Metalworkers use a wide variety of power and hand held tools to shape brass and steel into the nearly 1,500 pieces needed to make up the action of the harp. Some simple parts may be purchased from outside manufacturers. The metal components are then stored to await assembly.
Decorating the wooden components
• 4 Before assembly the wooden components are decorated as desired. The column
A modern concert harp stands about 70-75 in (1.8-1.9 m) high, is about 40 in (1 m) wide, weighs about 70-90 lb (32-41 kg), and has 47 strings, ranging in size from a few inches to several feet in length.
A modern concert harp stands about 70-75 in (1.8-1.9 m) high, is about 40 in (1 m) wide, weighs about 70-90 lb (32-41 kg), and has 47 strings, ranging in size from a few inches to several feet in length.
may be hand carved with complex designs which take several weeks to complete. All wooden parts are sanded smooth in preparation for finishing. They are then sprayed with clear lacquer or colored wood stain. After one coat of lacquer or stain is applied, it is allowed to dry and then sanded smooth again. This process is repeated up to 10 times over as long as two weeks. The soundboard may then be painted with elaborate designs.
• 5 Some harps have gilded columns and bases. The gilder begins by sanding unfinished wooden parts to remove all imperfections. Layers of gesso (a special mixture of glues) are applied to the smooth wood. After the gesso sets, layers of clay are applied and sanded smooth. Glue is applied to a small area of the smooth clay. Gold leaf 0.000004 inches thick (0.1 microns) is applied with a brush. (The gold is so thin that it cannot be handled directly by human hands.) The process is repeated on other small areas until an entire component is gilded. Excess gold is wiped away and another layer of gold leaf is applied. Some portions of the gold are burnished to a brilliant sheen by rubbing them with a tool made of polished agate. Clear lacquer is applied to protect the gold.