Violette dulcimer (was: Spousal protection order)

[tentmaker]

From my earlier post - [quote="tentmaker"]It looks like the "sheitholt on a sound box" pictured in Ralph Lee Smith's "Applachian Dulcimer Traditions" fig. 2-4 page 38 and similar to the one owned by Josie Wiseman fig.2-3, page 37. /quote]

Thanks for the pictures which give rise to the following observations:

The sound hole on the Josie Wiseman instrument is a flipped version of this one,the foot that is visible in fig.2-3 looks to be identical and the shape of lower bout also appears to be the same.The information in Ralph's book points to Kentucky as a likely origin for the two instruments pictured in his book.

I emailed Ralph Lee Smith a link to the pictures as he may have more info on the Josie Wiseman instrument.

[Scott Allen]

Very cool, Richard. Does the knob on the back look like the old electrical wiring knobs to anyone else? I can't remember what they were called off the top of my head. If that is the case and it wasn't a later addition, that could help date it also.

Scott

[pristine2]

Very cool, Richard. Does the knob on the back look like the old electrical wiring knobs to anyone else?
Scott

Could be. Also reminded me of a knob from an early electric appliance, like an oven. Very high chance, though, that this was added after the instrument was built. Judging by the heavy play and the eclectic variety of hitch pins, someone was actively engaged with this instrument over a long period, and was comfortable with making utilitarian modifications.

There was also paint residue on the old strings. That probably happened after 1930, based on information the seller sent me this morning.

IN his latest letter he says his family was always quite adamant that the instrument dates to the 1880s. His grandmother was born in 1905, and she inherited the instrument, already old, twenty-some years later, after which it was never played. That would mean the heavy play the instrument received was before 1930. "Old" could mean anything, but one might guess at least 15 or 20 years.

He also said there is a surviving great aunt of his who may remember more. She will ask her what she remembers.

Bill plans to take detailed photos of the pins & feet. The feet may have been added, but the pins are almost certainly original. If they're factory made, we can be pretty sure the instrument was made after 1900.

So I'm still not ready to date it yet. The argument for a 1900-1920 build is getting stronger, but it is too early to judge.

Richard

[pristine2]

Wow- a 'hollow fretboard' that is 1 3/4" tall and almost 2" wide...? Sounds like a small scheitholt all by itself. Again, it makes me wonder if someone built the wider dulcimer sound box and attached it to an older pre-existing bottomless narrow scheitholt ...and then painted everything brown so they would match.

I'm actively considering this theory, too. Ron Cook should be able to tell by examining the joints.

[pristine2]

"Bill plans to take detailed photos of the pins & feet. The feet may have been added, but the pins are almost certainly original. If they're factory made, we can be pretty sure the instrument was made after 1900."

Hate to contradict myself, but the pins too may have been added. I have to consider that the holes the headstock (visible from below) may once have housed wooden pegs, and the zither pins were added after they wore out.

Can't wait until this thing is right in front of me -- but that's going to be awhile.

[kwl]

I went back and looked at the current pictures and am going to contradict myself (it's catching). This may be a scheitholt-on-a-box after all. It is difficult to see the seams, but I think there is one at least on the bridge end of the instrument. It is difficult to tell if the strings at one time attached to the end of the fret board.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

[strumelia]

I still feel it's an older narrow bottomless ca.1890's scheitholt that had a newer wide soundbox added under it later on, perhaps 1920-30. Whether the wide lower soundbox has elements made by hand or by factory, that part has the fairly obvious furniture stylistic elements of 1910-30, not 1800's.
The original tuning pegs (of the upper scheitholt) may have been iron or other metal rather than wood (especially if the holes were small), then later replaced by newer zither pins. The end button reminds me of typical 1920-ish porcelain knobs.

[pristine2]

I received another letter from the seller today. It's pretty cool:

"Good Morning Richard,

I have some more information for you. I spoke with my aunt, who is the last surviving member of the family.

My grandfather was Joseph Beryl Downing, married to Anna L. Huff in 1922. My grandfather's parents were Beryl Joseph Downing, married to Erma Violette Downing. They were married in the late 1800's or so, as my grandfather was born in 1905. The dulcimer was made by a man with the name of Violette, who was one of her uncles. She still says the dulcimer was made in the late 1800's, but maybe around 1900.

Here are some interesting facts. The dulcimer was passed from Erma Violette Downing to a guy named J.D. Violette before it was passed to my grandmother. Dr. Violette of Worth, Missouri, had three children in school in Worth in 1897, as posted in the local newspaper in that year. They came from Kentucky, and earlier than that from Virginia.

My aunt was born in 1928. The last time it was played was by J.D. Violette, who played it in the front yard of the family home in Worth, Missouri in the early 1930's -- no later than 1936. My aunt remembers the family gathering around a large rock in the front yard, and J.D. Violette would play the dulcimer for the family, his name is carved on that rock. She said my mother was correct. She never heard it played, as my mother was born in 1936.

J.D. Violette owned a hotel in Worth, Missouri around the turn of the century. My aunt says you are correct -- it was played long and hard. J.D. Violette traveled by wagon around Northern Missouri from the turn of the century on, and played this dulcimer during those trips. He often exchanged accommodations for his family in the farms and homes in exchange for long nights playing the dulcimer.

There were three dulcimers made by the guy named Violette, the uncle of my great grandmother. Erma Violette Downing raised a girl, who was not a member of the family. One dulcimer was given to this girl who took it "back east" when she was around 18 years old. You now own the second dulcimer, and no one knows what happened to the third one.

My aunt told me to look in the box, as she remembers a piece of leather, made from a horse rein, that was used by J.D. Violette when he played the instrument. I told my aunt that I did not see a piece of leather in the case.

I hope this helps. Now we know the last name of the man who built the dulcimer, as well as the name of the last man to play it.

Fascinating. Now you are getting me hooked as well...

Warm regards"

[kwl]

It is pretty cool Richard. Thanks for sharing the letter. Some more research in to the family history may help provide more of the story.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

[pristine2]

Turns out the piece of leather mention by the seller in his letter above is still with the dulcimer. You can see it, along with the tuning tool and some closer shots of the instrument, in these latest photos from Bill:

http://tinyurl.com/4er775c

[pristine2]

The original tuning pegs (of the upper scheitholt) may have been iron or other metal rather than wood (especially if the holes were small), then later replaced by newer zither pins.

Now that my antique eyes have seen Bill's new close-ups, I think this almost certainly the case.

[JohnH]

Thanks for sharing, I particularly enjoyed the 'fancy' moulded work at the bridge end of the instrument, someone bothered with this detail!
JohnH