As with any vintage instrument, establishing the value of an old Autoharp can be difficult, but newer models are fairly easy to price. Newer Instruments. The Oscar Schmidt website offers specifications and prices for their entire current range of Autoharps, from the OS15B at $379.90 to the OS110 21FHS at $669.90 USD (as of August 2010). What is a Sekova Chromaharp autoharp in excellent condition worth?Serial number is XXXXX 69095620. May 01, 2018 The Oscar Schmidt Autoharp Company s a leader in its field and is still in business, under the ownership of the Washburn Company. Your model was built iin the mid-seventies. It is not possible t give you and exact date because thee is no serial number.
Oscar Schmidt Autoharp Serial Numbers Where Would You Find It
The Oscar Schmidt Company was and is a musical-instrument manufacturer (also selling under the names 'Oscar Schmidt Inc.,' 'Oscar Schmidt Musical House,' 'Manufacturers Advertising Company,' 'Oscar Schmidt-International Corporation,' and 'Oscar Schmidt-International, Inc.'), that designed and manufactured numerous models of parlourinstruments including lap harps, Autoharps, chord zithers, the Guitarophone (a zither/metal-disc playing hybrid), the Marxophone and Ukelins. The company, now owned by U.S. Music Corporation, continues to manufacture autoharps, ukuleles, guitars, banjos and mandolins.
History[edit]
Founded by Oscar and Otto Schmidt in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1879, the company applied for dozens of patents in musical instruments and related equipment. The Oscar Schmidt Company was formally incorporated in 1911. At its peak in the early 1920s, the company operated manufacturing facilities in five cities.
The instruments were primarily sold door-to-door by travelling musical salesmen from the early 1880s until 1965. The company often employed current events as a marketing strategy. Each year, the company would offer new 'special editions' of its products linked to newsworthy events likely to appeal to the sympathy of customers the salesforce would encounter. These special editions would include a small dedication commemorating the event and sheet music also written to commemorate the event. The company's salesmen kept detailed records of the buying habits of customers, and the selection of special editions was made annually with the intent to sell additional instruments to existing customers.
The company's instruments were intended to be relatively easy to play for amateurs. Oscar Schmidt designed small, portable, durable instruments[example needed] intended to be easy to learn, and useful for family entertainment in the decades between the Civil War and the emergence of radio and later television.
The company struggled during the early 1930s — following the death of Oscar Schmidt in 1929 — and was finally dissolved on May 18. 1937. However, in October 1936 just prior to the company's dissolution, a new company had been formed — Oscar Schmidt-International Inc. — which thrived until the spring of 1978 when falling under Chapter 11 control it was purchased by the owners of Fretted Industries Inc.,[1] later renamed Washburn International.
Current Company[edit]
Oscar Schmidt is currently located in Buffalo Grove, IL under the management of U. S. Music, a division of JAM Industries Inc., which manufactures autoharps, ukuleles, guitars, basses, banjos and mandolins.
Oscar Schmidt Autoharp Serial Numbers Where Would You Find It
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Oscar Schmidt Autoharp Felts
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oscar Schmidt Musical Instruments. |
- Oscarschmidt.com: official current Oscar Schmidt Company website — present day maker of autoharps and ukuleles.