1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class X.: Bassett Jones
533. JONES, BASSETT, Cardiff, Wales — Designer and Maker.
Grand triple-strung Welsh harp, worked in Welsh plane wood, carved in bold relief, the designs being emblematic of the country, in oak, mistletoe, etc., with two dragons in front, cut in round relief. On the comb is an equilibrium bearing-plate, to cause equal tension on the three rows of springs.
[The triple-strung Welsh harp was an ingenious but laborious contrivance to enable the performer to take semitones, and to modulate into different keys. It is now superseded by the pedal harp, particularly that with the double action, invented by Erard. The two outer rows of strings are diatonic and unisonic: the centre row comprises all those sounds necessary to complete the thirteen semitones belonging to each octave. This instrument is described by Mersennas in his "Harmonie Universelle," 1636.—H. E. D.]