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MMD > Archives > June 2004 > 2004.06.14 > 01Prev  Next


"Volksklavier" Self-Playing Zither
By Marcus Pregler

Dear MMDers, a collector friend of mine here in Bavaria bought a rare
instrument last week at an antique fair.  He asked me for some advice,
I can not help him; hopefully one of you can.

He bought a "Volksklavier", a mechanical music instrument similar to
a Chordephon, made about 1900.  It is a table model, black polished.
The measurements are 23" wide, 11" deep and 5" high.  It plays folding
cardboards which are 10 inches wide and up to 2 meters long.

This instrument has no motor; it works with a crank which has to be
turned all the time.  It plays 34 strings.  All in all it seems in
good condition.

In the book I found on page 356: "...the Volksklavier used a heavy
paper strip and was popular in Germany around the turn of the 20th
century."  Sorry, there was no illustration.

If somebody knows more about it than I do, it would be great if he
shares his knowledge with us.

Thanks you for your help

Marcus Pregler of Germany


(Message sent Mon 14 Jun 2004, 15:37:40 GMT, from time zone GMT+0200.)

Key Words in Subject:  Self-Playing, Volksklavier, Zither

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