Eolian Harp

ALTERNATE NAME(S)

Sonora
Guitar zither
Zither, chord strings layered over melody strings
Germania harp
Chord zither
Fretless zither

Maker Phonoharp Company

Distributor I. S. Gilpin

Date1900-1926 ca.

Place MadeEast Boston, Massachusetts, United States, North America

Place DistributedSioux City, Iowa, United States, North America

ModelEolian Harp

Serial No.none

SignedSoundhole label: square paper label with double line black circular border; inside border in black printed: EOLIAN HARP / TRADE MARK / Manufd. for / I. S. GILPIN / SIOUX CITY, IOWA

Soundboard decal: gold decal at top on instrument, centered on soundboard; gold floral accents on left and right sides and below text: in gold text printed: EOLIAN-HARP
Markingsnone
DescriptionStrings: 53 strings grouped into 6 chords with bass strings on the left of each chord; strings divided into 2 courses; 21 strings run full length of soundboard creating the lower course; 32 strings terminate at bridge at three quarters length of soundboard creating the upper course
Body: rectangular body; hollow center portion with a solid pin block at top and bottom
Top: black-painted hardwood; two gold rectangular pitch designation decals, upper decal faded with illegible text; lower decal indicates an F major scale, a G major scale, and indicates lower course string tunings and numbers
Back: black-painted hardwood; upper course strings tie to steel pins secured with tension to black-painted hardwood pin block on back side of instrument
Sides: black-painted hardwood
Soundhole: circular soundhole centered on soundboard; edged with gold decorative decal; gold and green repeated leaf image surrounded on each side by a dark gold rectangular border; soundhole decal resembles decals found on Menzenhauer and Schmidt zithers
Nut: black-painted hardwood with copper-colored steel wire saddle; all strings originate at same nut, but terminate at different bridges
Bridge: 3 bridges
black-painted hardwood diagonal bridge located above soundhole; copper-colored steel wire saddle; 24 steel nail heads grouped into pairs above saddle guiding lower course strings
black-painted hardwood rounded bridge located three quarters length of soundboard; steel wire saddle for upper course strings; upper course strings enter instrument body through holes at base of bridge; lower course strings pass underneath bridge through cut slots
black-painted hardwood bridge located at end of soundboard; copper-colored steel wire saddle for lower course strings; black-painted hardwood endpiece
Tuning Pins: 53 steel tuning pins
Table-top Rests: 4 brass cone-shaped rests, 1 in each corner on back
DimensionsBody: 550 mm / 21.7 inches long, 300 mm / 11.8 inches wide
Upper course string vibrating length: 345 mm / 13.6 inches
Lower course string vibrating length: 464 mm / 18.3 inches
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number02233

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