Balalaika prima
Date1967 ca.
Place MadeChernihiv, Ukraine, Europe
Serial No.None
SignedPrinted in red, brown, and gray on paper label: УССР [USSR / Ukraine] / МИНМЕСТПРОМ [MINMESTPROM] / УКРГЛ.АВМУЗПРОМ [UKRHLAVMUZPROM ] / У [over gray treble clef surrounded with red floral motif] / Музыкальная [Muzykal’naya / Music] фабрика [Fabrika / Factory] / г. Чернигов [h. Chernyhov / in Chernihiv] / [rubber-stamped in purple ink with single line border along right side of label, the “9” written in blue ink] Цена [price] 4 p. 95 к.Incised on head, on hammer of hammer, sickle, and star: 1917-1967MarkingsPencil markings on inside of backDescriptionStringed instruments made at factories in the Soviet Union were were often sold to the West in order to generate cash in western currencies.
Stringing: three double courses
Soundboard: five-piece spruce: wide grain
Bowl: 5 vaulted beech ribs divided dark-brown-stained hardwood stringing; lower end of body spruce
Head: beech
Neck: beech
Heel cap: maple with lower section extending over part of back, over black-stained hardwood shim
Binding: black-stained beech
Fingerboard: beech, integral with neck, painted black on top surface; 18 brass fret, including zero fret; mother-of-pearl dots behind 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets, not including zero fret
Nut: beech
Bridge: beech
Tuners: two sets of worm-gear machine tuners with nickel-plated steel plates, nickel-plated steel rollers, and white and black marbelized plastic heads with lined texture
Tailpiece: nickel-plated steel
Rosette: wide red and black three-ply plywood rings
Pickguard: mahogany or luan plywood
Varnish: dark orange with shading on back
Bowl lining: white cloth strips along rib joints
Neck block: integral with neck
Other: black-stained horsehair, twisted strapDimensionsTotal balalaika prima length: 583 mm
Top length: 280 mm
Maximum body width: 396 mm
Maximum bowl height: 56 mm
Head length: 132 mm
Head width, top: 69 mm
Head width, bottom: 51 mm
Neck length (nut to ribs): 261 mm
Neck width, nut: 28 mm
Neck width, heel: 38 mm
Soundhole diameter: 21 mm
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 416 mmProvenanceNo known provenance.
Credit LinePaul and Jean Christian Collection, 2006
Object number12531
On View
Not on view
1920 ca.
