SAMS hand made dulcimer 1971

[JK in FL]

Near Boone, NC in 1971 I bought a lovely dulcimer from a man whose signature on it is SAMS. Does anyone know anything about or of him? It is maple with birds eye on top. I need to get a value for it.
JK in FL

[johnny sams]

Your duclimer was likely made by my father, James David Sams, Sr. He became a duclimer maker about 1965 at the age of 46. He was a wood worker beginning in the mid to late 1940's. You most likely purchased the dulcimer in a shop called Heathside Crafts between Boone and Blowing Rock. This was co-op that was created to help craftsmen of the Appalachian reigon market their crafts. If you bought the dulcimer directly from my father, it would have been at a show that would have been sponsored by the co-op. He lived just west of Ashevlle, NC in the community of Enka. We have no idea how many dulcimers he made during the short time he made them. He passed away on August 29, 1973, just two years after you bought you instrument. In 1970, I was fortunate to have worked with my father for about 8 months and learned the art of dulcimer making. I have only made about 55 instruments since his death. I hope after I retire in a couple of years, I will have more time to devote the the craft.

[Dan Landrum]

Thanks for sharing your story Johnny, and welcome to Everything Dulcimer.

[mlz77096]

I have a SAMS that I bought on ebay nearly 10 years ago. It came with a wooden box obviously made for shipping andstoring that instrument. The instrument supposedly came from an abandoned storage unit in California. Did he usually build special cases for them?

[watso011]

I know this is a late post but I happened to be cleaning out some clutter in the basement and found a Sams dulcimer I bought back in 1971 or 1972 when I was at St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, NC. Johnny, when you said that your dad sold most of his instruments through the co-op up near Boone, it reminded me that I had actually bought this instrument directly from him at St. Andrews. Your dad and a number of instrument makers, singers, cloggers, etc came to attend the first St. Andrews Folk Festival. Charles Joyner, a history professor and folklore buff at the college, put this event together. Many of these folks he had met while doing his research in mountain folklore studies.

I bought the 3 string dulcimer and a display stand for $50.00 (huge money for me at that time!) in the St Andrews Gymnasium where the tables and soundstages were set up. I remember that he was so tickled that these young college students were really interested in mountain music. I don't recall how many other folks might have bought one out of his hands but I know of several who placed orders with him.

[johnny sams]

Thanks for your message. Sorry it took so long for my reply but I don't get on the sight very offen. It is good to hear that there are still some of my dad's insturments out there. I have three in my collection and one that he helped me build in the late 1960's. Kind regards, Johnny

[johnny sams]

I have a SAMS that I bought on ebay nearly 10 years ago. It came with a wooden box obviously made for shipping andstoring that instrument. The instrument supposedly came from an abandoned storage unit in California. Did he usually build special cases for them?

I don't recall that he made very many wooden boxes for shipping and/or storing. This one was porbably a special request. Most of the insturments that he shipped were in a well reinforced card board boxes. Kind regards, Johnny

[GWentland]

This topic has gone around before. Check out.
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