Ukelin
Alternate name(s)
- Chord zither
- Zither, bowed melody strings, chord, guitar-shaped body
- Violin zither
- Fretless zither
- Bowed zither
Maker
Oscar Schmidt Company
Maker
Manufacturers Advertising Co.
(distributor associated with Oscar Schmidt Company)
Date1950
Place MadeJersey City, New Jersey, United States, North America
Modelnone
Serial No.5033 (batch number)
SignedDecal inside both soundholes; gold print on black background: PRICE $40.00 / UKELIN / Distributed Exclusively by the / Manufacturers / Advertising Co. / 93 Ferry Street / Jersey City, N. J.MarkingsBatch Number 5033 stamped into back
Decal around small soundhole, black on yellow background.
Decal around large soundhole, red and black on yellow background.
DescriptionAn American "numerical zither," which is played by bowing the melody strings and plucking the chord strings.
Made of wood, in the shape of a long lyre, with flat back, top, and sides.
Black stain on back and sides fades to honey-brown varnish towards middle of top. Metal tuning pins, hitch pins, and stud loops; plastic protective rings around holes for music holder.
Wooden guards over melody hitch pins are attached to sides.
Sixteen melody strings, which run at an angle to instrument top.
Sixteen chord strings in groups of four, which run parallel over the instrument top. Tuning pins for melody strings are on opposite end of top from those for chord strings. Melody decals and stud loops are attached directly to top of instrument.
melody decals: black on yellow chord decal: black on yellow
Dimensionsbody: 27 3/8 in. (69.6 cm.) x 7 1/4 in. (18.5 cm.) at widest point x 1 1/4 in. (3.3 cm.)
soundhole diameters: 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) and 2 1/4 in. (5.8 cm.)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number02717
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