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Dulcimer

One dulcimer made in Birmingham, (probably Smallheath), circa 1900. This trapezoid instrument is made of wood covered with veneer. The hitch pins and wrest pins are concealed by two hinged lids, each decorated with inlaid wood in a design of a lozenge surrounded by discs of mother of pearl. The table is painted black with 4 soundholes outlined in white, and a design of two birds. There is a hole in the underside of the instrument for a pole to support it at the requisite angle for playing. The instrument is strung with 12 courses of treble and 12 courses of bass strings: 12 quadruple courses of steel treble strings, 10 triple courses of brass bass strings; 1 triple course of bass steel strings that is the highest course of bass strings, and a single wire-wound string that is the lowest note of the bass strings. To the left of each course of tuning pins is a comb of small pins to keep all the strings in each course separate. The holes in the bridges were burned out with a red hot poker. Parts of the instrument were re-silvered by the owner, Leslie John Evans.

  • Measurements:overall: 1005 mm x 300 mm x 142 mm