Violin-uke

Alternate name(s)

Fretless zither
Bowed zither
Chord zither
Zither, bowed melody strings, chord, rectangular body
Pianolin
Pianoette
Violin zither

Date1929-1938 ca.

Place MadeNew Troy, Michigan, United States, North America

Serial No.none

SignedPaper label inside soundhole, blue on off-white; "1928" hand-written in blue ink TO INTRODUCE THE / Violin=Uke / PATENT APPLIED FOR / WE WILL SELL A LIMITED / NUMBER FOR .... $17.50 / Regular Price $35.00 / MARXOCHIME COLONY / NEW TROY, MICH.DescriptionAn "American numerical zither," played by bowing the melody strings and plucking the chord strings. Unlike other violin-ukes, this instrument is in the shape of a rectangle, and the strings are arranged in fashion similar to that of a pianolin, although not chromatic. Body made of wood, with all surfaces flat. Back is painted black; rest of instrument is colored gold, with black air-brushing around the edges and soundhole. Metal tuning, positioning, and hitch pins. A rectangle of wood screwed onto one side and which rotates around screw, serves as prop.
Sixteen chord strings, in groups of four on left side and arranged parallel to top, with hitch pins at foot of instrument. Sixteen melody strings on right side run at an angle to top and are held by positioning pins on instrument top. All tuning pins are at the top of the instrument.
tuning pins: chord | melody
melody decal: black on gold
soundhole melody decal
chord decal
chord decal: black on gold-brown background
Dimensions18 1/4 in. (46.4 cm.) x 7 1/4 in. (18.5 cm.) x 1 1/4 in. (33 mm.)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Published ReferencesPrinted in blue ink on paper label: TO INTRODUCE THE / Violin=Uke / PATENT APPLIED FOR / WE WILL SELL A LIMITED / NUMBER FOR .... $17.50 / Regular Price $35.00 / MARXOCHIME COLONY / NEW TROY, MICH.

An "American numerical zither," played by bowing the melody strings and plucking the
chord strings. Unlike other violin-ukes, this instrument is in the shape of a rectangle, and
the strings are arranged in fashion similar to that of a pianolin, although not chromatic. Body made of wood, with all surfaces flat. Back is painted black; rest of instrument is colored gold, with black air-brushing around the edges and soundhole. Metal tuning, positioning, and hitch pins. A rectangle of wood screwed onto one side and which rotates around screw, serves as prop.
Sixteen chord strings, in groups of four on left side and arranged parallel to top, with hitch pins at foot of instrument. Sixteen melody strings on right side run at an angle to top and are held by positioning pins on instrument top. All tuning pins are at the top of the instrument.
tuning pins:
chord | melodymelody decal:
black on
gold
soundhole melody decal
chord decal
chord decal:
black on gold-brown background

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number03838

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