Instrument
Dulcimer |
Instrument Family
Strings |
Date Made
Mid 20th Century |
Description
Technical description: Trapeziod shaped. Sides veneered in light wood. Soundboard of a pine type wood with wide annual growth rings. Baseboard of pine. Bridges and nuts of a type of mahogany with brass strips set into the top of the bridge for the strings to pass over at an angle so that the strings furthest from the player (of each course) are longer than the other strings of the course. The bridges has been shaped so that the strings not going over that particular bridge pass in semi-circular cut outs in the bridge. 16 courses of strings, all quadruple strung except the lowest two courses on the long bridge which are both double strung. Steel `thumbtack' type hitchpins; square-headed tuning-pins. Wrestplank and hitchpin rail veneered in grained plastic. Four holes, diameter 10, in the soundboard with metal bushings. Height adjustable angle stand on the short side.
Overall size: 835.
Body length: 614 - 835.
Body width: 324.
Body depth: 69 (maximum body depth), 103 (including bridge).
String length: long strings 318 - 472; divided strings) 256/384 - 170/255.
No inscriptions.
Decorative features: Black painted lines on the soundboard about 40 from the edge and also at the extreme edge in a herringbone pattern. Black painted decoration on both sides consisting of a border with circles and geometric patterns inside. Baseboard painted black.
With hard black trapeziod case lined with red cloth inside. Two broken hinges on the short side. Two locks and a handle on the long side.
Repair History: Soundboard broken near the edge along the long side for about half of the length.
Given with beaters (2408/1) and (2408/2). |
Other Information
Specific usage history: Used by James Blades to play theme song in film `Anna May Wong'. |
Notes
D.P. Martin, 1996-1997. |
Measurements
835. |
Provenance
Gift of J. Blades, 1984. |
Collection
Blades Collection ; MIMEd |
Accession Number
2407 |