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MYSTERY INSTRUMENT: What are these antique dulcimer things?

I recently won these two instruments in an eBay auction. The seller said that these were found in a Massachusetts house from 1900 that was being demoed. No other information was given.

First, here's a video tour around them both:

The instruments appear to be handmade and are very similar in construction. One is 26" long and the other (with a protruding headstock horn) is 28".

They both feature 18.5" scale lengths, a metal "pickguard" area and body depths between 1.5" and 1.75". Tuning is via traditional zither pins.

Each instrument features a fretted area and a drone string area. The frets are made from bent wire that is inserted into holes in the soundboard. The longer instrument features four strings that are fretted and four strings that are drone. The shorter has three fretted strings and four drones.

Note the long 16 penny nail used as a bridge.

The biggest difference between the two is the number of strings and the headstock shape:

Even the soundholes are similar, apparently made by carving an "X" into the soundboard and then adding additional flourishes.

The headstocks and butt ends are separate from the body and were glued on. You can see the details in the picture of the instruments backs:

These instruments are inspiring me to create my own version. Perhaps an electric version using a 2x4 and pickups?

So what is it? Did I buy a holy grail? Post your observations, conclusions and comments below!

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Permalink Reply by Termoking on April 26, 2017 at 2:51am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_KYHqd9LI0

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Permalink Reply by Metal hic on April 26, 2017 at 6:58am

from the youtube video : "A little composition made for the 'vlier'. The 'vlier' is a traditional instrument from Belgium, but is also used in the Netherlands. It is family of the dulcimer, langeleik, scheitholt and epinette. In Belgium it is also known as a 'hommel'. This particular instrument is of a rather archaic type: simple, diatonic with an added F-sharp. The melody strings are tuned in G, the drone strings in G and C. With lowering the melody strings from G to an F, or, by tuning up the drones to A and D one can play in minor keys.
Though modern instruments may be fully chromatic and often played with the finger tips, this one is played with a little stick with which the melody strings are pushed down.
This instrument is made by a young new firm "Muziek enzo" from the Netherlands. Have a look at www.muziekenzo.org, though most is still under construction."

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on April 28, 2017 at 6:21am

Nice find, I'm jealous! Care to contribute them to my collection?

Yep, strummed, usually with a stick or "noter" for fretting and sometimes with a large feather "quill" for a plectrum originally I reckon.

Zither family, Hommel, Scheitholt or Epinette would all probably be close enough to be interchangeable.

Since they were generally made by small volume luthiers or home made, there are many similar, slight or major variants.

That style of wire frets are commonly called "staple" frets. Often made of the same course wire as improvised for strings.

I am guessing the zither pin tuners were often salvaged from pianos, not sure about that.

I have one in my collection that is a variant that has a large hollow body and a larger number of sympathetic strings than these examples. Pre- Civil war era, often colonial period.

A good resource on the history of the Mountain dulcimer and their ancestors is one Mr. Ralph Lee Smith, who is considered one of the foremost authorities. You can find his excellent books on the subject on Amazon.

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Permalink Reply by A.D.EKER on April 29, 2017 at 3:46am

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Permalink Reply by A.D.EKER on April 29, 2017 at 3:47am

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Permalink Reply by A.D.EKER on April 29, 2017 at 3:48am

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Permalink Reply by A.D.EKER on April 29, 2017 at 3:57am

HOMMEL, Mercer citer, Hummel, to my Knolledge Europeen forerunners of the Mountain Dulcimer there are Austria/German scheitholts that are in the same Catagorie, sins its all home made Insrtuments there is NO uniformty but a general consensus on shape & size, i do not know what you mean by holy grail but it are antiek forerunners of the mountain dulcimer to my humble opinion!

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Permalink Reply by A.D.EKER on April 29, 2017 at 4:15am

This is middle Ages it comes closest to the dulcimer, but is played entirely differend as you see on this painting from that period,it comes closest to the Japanese look alike.

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Permalink Reply by A.D.EKER on April 29, 2017 at 4:21am

This is my last contribution in this series it is the Hommel whit tunings Handle and comes closest to your finds Shane, they are Belgium/Dutch from Origen and treu time came from the Slavian country's (BALKAN) over to us .Hope this helps Shane if you have any more Questions on the subject feel free to ask me. GREEEEEETSSSZZ A.D.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 1, 2017 at 5:08am

You posted these while I was thinking about what to make for the 2x4 challenge so I decided on a 2x4 replica. I'll enter it along with some build details whenever the challenge begins but I thought I'd share a look at my replica attempt.

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Permalink Reply by Magne Rudjord on August 3, 2017 at 3:09am

This must be a Norwegian "langeleik". Perhaps made by immigrants or brought from the homeland.

If you want to check it out; look at www.langeleik.no

Best regards Magne.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on August 3, 2017 at 4:22am

edit. i didn't read through the responses before i answered and took a guess. I see you already have the info. But still wanted to leave the link to the Smithsonian and a place here in St louis that sell antique and unique instruments.

........I tried looking 'lover's dulcimer' at Smithsonian.com but had no luck. Great resource for old American instruments. Unfortunately most have more than one name.

There's a place here in St Louis that may have the answer. https://musicfolk.com. Try sending them these pics.