Menzenhauer's guitar-zither No. 2
ALTERNATE NAME(S)
- Guitar zither
- Zither, chord, melody strings
- Chord zither
- Fretless zither
Maker
Oscar Schmidt
Maker
Oscar Schmidt Company
Distributor
U. S. Guitar Zither Co.
(distributor associated with Oscar Schmidt Company)
Date1909 ca.
Place MadeJersey City, New Jersey, United States, North America
ModelMenzenhauer's Guitar Zither No. 2, Special Hudson-Fulton model
Serial No.none
SignedSoundhole label: black rectangular paper label with circular gold border; within gold border in gold printed: U.S. GUITAR ZITHER CO. / Oscar Schmidt, / Manufacturer of / Menzenhauer Guitar-Zither / No. 2 / Patented May 29, 1894. / D.G.M.P. No. 68664. / 87-101 FERRY ST., JERSEY CITY, N.J.MarkingsSoundboard decal: first curve of ribbon in red printed: SPECIAL; second curve of ribbon in black printed: HUDSON – FULTON; third curve of ribbon in black printed: MODEL
DescriptionStrings: 31 strings (1 missing); 4 chords consisting of 4 strings each, 15 melody strings
Body:
Top: red-varnished birch; light gold decal pitch designation label with dark gold geometrical border; label shows chord spellings, string musical notations, string tunings, and string numbers
Back: black-painted birch
Sides: red-varnished maple
Soundhole: gold decal; gold and red geometrical pattern inner most border surrounded by scrolling foliage outer border; decal depicts two harps and two mandolins flanking soundhole
Nut: 2 piece red-varnished birch nut; portion of nut for chord strings perpendicular to strings; portion of nut for melody strings diagonal to strings; single piece steel wire saddle; 2 holes for wire sheet music stand
Bridge: red-varnished hardwood bridge with steel wire saddle; dark red-varnished hardwood endpiece
Soundboard decal: located underneath chord side of nut; 3-sailed ship at sea with Hungarian flag, ship image surrounded by single line gold border; gold ribbon underneath ship image; first curve of ribbon in red printed: SPECIAL; second curve of ribbon in black printed: HUDSON – FULTON; third curve of ribbon in black printed: MODEL
Tuning Pins: 31 steel tuning pins; 31 steel guide pins above nut with traces of red finish
Table-top Rests: 3 dome-shaped bronze rests on back
DimensionsBody: 495 mm / 19.5 inches long, 310 mm / 12.2 inches wide
Highest melody string vibrating length: 180 mm / 7.1 inches
Lowest melody string vibrating length: 395 mm / 15.5 inches
Chord string vibrating length: 395 mm / 15.5 inches
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number02232
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