He describes himself as coming from a rock n` roll background by way of the position he held at CBS` Fender Guitar division in 1980.įrom 1974 to 1985, Lyon & Healy was the property of CBS, which also owned three other musical instrument divisions-Rodgers Organ Co., Steinway & Sons piano company and Gemeinhardt Co., a flute and piccolo maker. O`Donnell came on board as president of the music company in 1984 when it was owned by CBS.Ī native of northwest suburban Crystal Lake, O`Donnell has an undergraduate degree in music and a graduate degree in business. Lyon & Healy employs about 60 people, including woodworkers, machinists, harpmakers, master harpmakers, gilders, sanders and regulators-those who do the final assembly of the instruments. We`ve had a very positive blend of ages and backgrounds,'' said O`Donnell, 34. ''In many ways we`re a young company in spirit and ideas even though Lyon & Healy`s tradition is more than 100 years old. The older European artisans who worked here taught their skills down to the younger workers who were interested in learning the craft. ''The truth is our average harpmaker is about 35 years old. ''Most people think these harps are done by little old men on an assembly line,'' O`Donnell said. The harp first takes shape in ''a birthing room,'' where the hull is made, and ends with the finished product, shining and waiting to be delivered. The assembly process of the harp is personalized. The various woods used in the construction of the harp include maple, striped ebony, mahogany, walnut, spruce koa, another hardwood and bubinga, a wood from West Africa used as a veneer. Some are very elaborate and others are crisp in design with colorful etchings on the harp`s soundboard. The harps are different in size, wood and design. At least 10 different styles of harps are in the room, where a harpist on this particular morning is trying out one of the Lyon & Healy instruments. The sounds are coming from a music room in the rear of the building. ''I`m so used to the sounds that I hardly realize someone is back there playing.'' ''No, that`s not a tape you hear and I don`t think you`ll find any halos. However, O`Donnell dismisses notions of taped music or earth-bound angels playing for the pleasure of Lyon & Healy employees.
0 kommentar(er)
