Zitho-harp

ALTERNATE NAME(S)

Fretless zither
Zither, chord, melody strings, cross-strung
Chord zither
Guitar zither

Date1900 ca.

Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America

ModelZitho-Harp Style C

Serial No.none

SignedSoundhole label: red rectangular paper label with single line black border; within border in black printed: BREDSHALL COMPANY / MANUFACTURERS / ZITHO-HARP / STYLE C / CHICAGO, U. S. A. / Pat. June 19th 1900 / 192 GRAND AVE.
MarkingsModel decal: on plaque in gold printed: ZiTHoHARP; on plaque in black printed: TRADE / MARK
DescriptionStrings: 33 strings (6 missing); 4 chords consisting of 4 strings each strung horizontally across soundboard with bass strings at bottom of each chord, 17 melody strings strung vertically across soundboard
Body:
Top: black-painted birch; 2 holes in melody string pin block for wire sheet music stand
Back: black-painted birch
Sides: black-painted birch
Soundhole: circular soundhole centered on soundboard; single gold line decal border
Nut: 2 nuts; black-painted birch nut with steel saddle for chord strings, chord nut located vertical to soundboard; black-painted maple nut with steel saddle for melody strings located diagonal to strings
Bridge: 2 bridges; each bridge black painted birch with steel saddle and black-painted birch endpiece; bridge for chord strings shorter, located on left side of soundhole; bridge for melody strings longer, located below soundhole
Decoration:
Manufacturing decal: golden eagle with wings spread over top of four American flags located on top left side of soundboard
Model decal: yellow plaque with gold scrolling border directly over top of soundhole; on plaque in gold printed: ZiTHoHARP; on plaque in black printed: TRADE / MARK
Pitch designation decal: 2 gold decals with red border, 1 underneath chord strings, 1 underneath melody strings; 1 decal indicates chord spellings and chord numbers; 1 decal indicates melody string tuning and melody string numbers
Tuning Pins:
chord string tuners: 16 blued steel tuning pins located on shortest side of body
Melody string tuners: 17 blued steel tuning pin located on curvilinear side of body
Table-top Rests: none
DimensionsBody: 474 mm / 18.7 inches wide, 445 mm / 17.5 inches long
Chord string vibrating length: 415 mm / 16.3 inches
Highest melody string vibrating length: 165 mm / 6.5 inches
Lowest melody string vibrating length: 385 mm / 15.2 inches
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number02247

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