Preview
Creation Date
1910
Description
Schmidt 4/30 Mandolin harp. It has a sound board decal that commemorates the opening of the Panama canal. It features golden decals around the edges, the tonehole, and at the bottom of the soundboard. There is also a flower grouping at the bottom edge of the instrument.
This particular mandolin harp was built in Jersey City, New Jersey by Oscar Schmidt Incorporated and is made of wood and metal between 1907 and 1915. It measures 20 inches in length and 12.75 inches in width and is 1.5 inches in height.
The mandolin harp has fallen into a new classification called "fretless zithers." This one falls specifically into the category of chorded zithers. It is referred to as a Schmidt 4/30 because it has 4 chords and 30 melody strings. The instrument was supposedly invented in 1907 (fretlesszithers.com). The soundboard decal reads "SPECIAL PANAMA MODEL 1915."
Information was gathered from www.fretlesszithers.com on 2/18/2010
Keywords
Western Kentucky University, Playing Our Song, Musical Instruments, Mandolin Harp, Zither