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Menzenhauer's guitar-zither No. 2
Alternate name:Chord zither
Alternate name:Fretless zither
Alternate name:Zither, chord, melody strings
Alternate name:Guitar zither
Maker: Oscar Schmidt
Maker: Oscar Schmidt Company
Distributor: U. S. Guitar Zither Co. (distributor associated with Oscar Schmidt Company)
Date: 1909 ca.
Place Made:Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, North America
Model: Menzenhauer'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
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
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.
Terms
Credit Line: Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Not on view
Object number: 02232