Flugabone Rag: The Harlem Rag

The Harlem Rag (1897) is considered one of the earliest published piano rags. The composer Tom Turpin (1871-1922) was a businessman and bar owner in St. Louis. He taught himself to play piano and subsequently published a handful of rags. He encouraged other ragtime pianists by having them play in his bar.
This instrument, a King flugabone made around 1967, was overhauled and customized by Scott Sweeney of Sweeney Brass.