'Guitar-mandolin-bango' zither
Object No. 98/9/1
Zither, part of collection, 'Guitar-mandolin-banjo', wood / metal, maker unknown, probably Germany, c. 1925-1935
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Summary
Physical Description
Zither, "Guitar-mandolin-banjo", wood/metal/paint, maker unknown, [Germany, 1925-1935]. Zither, body of wood varnished black, with straight edges along bottom and left-hand side, oblique, slightly curved edge running between top and right-hand side; curved right-hand side edge. 62 strings; the bottom 20 strings are grouped in five sets of four, each making up a different chord; the remaining strings are grouped in pairs (double courses at the same pitch); each of the five lower chord groups includes one string wound in copper around the steel core and three strings wound in steel around the steel core; remaining lower and mid-range strings are of steel core wound with steel; treble strings are of straight steel. Each string wound on a steel tuning pin set obliquely into the table along the top and oblique edges of the instrument; each string attached to a small steel pin set into the bottom edge of the instrument; these lower pins are concealed by a strip of wood screwed to the body of the instrument. Strings cross a continuous bridge made of wood and metal along the top and right-hand edges of the belly. Central circular soundhole in the belly, surrounded by a transfer polychrome and gold border of flowers and leaves [waterlillies]. Visible through the soundhole is a paper label, glued to the inside back of the instrument, printed in gold: MODEL 1925/ Guitar - Mandolin - Banjo/ AUSTRALASIAN DISTRIBUTORS/ AUSTRAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC/ Sydney, Melbourne/ Auckland, N.Z. Upper section of belly has a transfer image of a mermaid [siren?] lying on a rock playing a [shawm], with a rocky seascape in the background, all surrounded by floral border. Along the lower part of the belly is another transfer, with floral border, containing a music stave with the names of the notes beneath, in solfeggio names, then letter names, then numbers beneath. On the back of the instrument are three metal studs to act as supporting feet. Glued to back is a paper label, half torn away, which reads "... Street Newmarket".
DIMENSIONS
Width
356 mm
Depth
62 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Designer unknown. Maker unknown. Probably made in one of the German states - solfeggio names of notes indicate continental European maker; use of H/B as name for B natural suggests Germany; cardboard box which appears to be the original packaging bears a label "Made in Germany". Probably made between 1925-1935. Label on instrument reads "MODEL 1925" which may be the date this model was first released. Miss Robinson died in about 1939 when living in Sunshine and she already had the instrument while living in Newmarket; judging from its excellent condition she probably purchased it new. The style of the transfers looks art nouveau - especially the floral border around the soundhole.
HISTORY
Notes
This zither was owned and used by Miss Ruby Robinson, who died in about 1939-1940, aged in her thirties. Miss Robinson had been a childhood friend of the donor's aunt by marriage, Mrs Olive Mounsey. Miss Robinson was a spinster, and made her home with Olive Mounsey and her husband Mr Vere Mounsey after they married. Vere Mounsey was the donor's father's brother. Ruby Robinson worked in the retail field - for a chain of shops called O'Gilpin. She and the Mounseys lived in Newmarket, Victoria, and later in Sunshine, Victoria, where Vere Mounsey worked for H.V. McKay at the Sunshine Harvester manufactory. Miss Robinson died while living at Sunshine. Judging by the hand-written label on the back of the zither, Miss Robinson bought the zither while living at Newmarket. Probably purchased new by Miss Ruby Robinson. On Miss Robinson's death it was inherited by Mrs Olive Mounsey, and later passed to her sister-in-law, the donor's mother. The donor's mother died in 1996, at which time it was inherited by the donor, Mrs Betty Johnston.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs Betty Johnston, 1997
Acquisition Date
21 January 1998
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