Dale Barco (1928-2010) was most infamously know as the Harp Doctor. His work restoring, fixing, and making harps continues to be known throughout the harp world. Much of the success of the Salvi Company in America can be attributed to his efforts.

Before pursing his career of over forty years in the harp world, Dale assembled torpedoes for the Naval Ordnance. He served with the United States Navy, working on mine-laying destroyers in Mine Warfare and with booby traps in Germany. Dale left his torpedo job and in 1954 started working for the Comptometer Corporation in Chicago. While there, he helped to develop the first quartz crystal oscillator, which was sent up into space on the first satellite. Dale’s contract with the company expired in 1961 and left him in search of a job. He walked past the Lyon and Healy Factory and saw an advertisement that they were looking for help. He talked to the manager at the time, Mr. Kopseaker. Dale was told that the machinist job advertised was taken, but that there was a position open for fixing harps. He accepted the position and went through six months of training. For the next fourteen years, Dale worked with Lyon and Healy in Los Angeles. In 1975, Victor Salvi invited Dale to work for him to help open the Salvi Company in America. He took many trips representing the Salvi Company to see how harps were made. He then opened up his own harp repair shop in Los Angeles. The first harp he made was for Gail Laughton. He also restored a Louis XV gold harp and customized many others.