Old musical stringed instrument

Somewhat recent find. I don't know a thing about it, took to a music store, they said that it is not an autoharp? It is dirty because I am having trouble cleaning under the strings as they are so close together and close to the base, and trying not to damage the paper any further. I am not musical in the least, but liked the look of it. Any help would be appreciated. Age? ID? It is wood with metal strings, no makers mark that I could find, just a paper label with the number 513. TIA!!!

 

Chorded Zither. "Although the word autoharp was originally a trademark of the Oscar Schmidt company, the term has colloquially come to be used for any hand-held, chorded zither, regardless of manufacturer" Seems like it could be called an autoharp to me.

 

I remember this from grade school and it was always called an autoharp.

 

it's wonderful

 

Yes, it is an autoharp. Or chorded zither. I'm not familiar with the maker, but doesn't look to be Zimmerman or Oscar Schmidt. Circa 1900-1910. I wonder if there were originally buttons on the chord bars, now replaced with the little rubber pads.
It is probably not worth the time or expense to make it playable; it likely would need refelting, and if it takes a non-standard size felt, you would be out of luck.
Most autoharps and other zithers of this vintage are pretty much wall-hangers; but it is pretty.

 

PS, there are tools made to clean under the strings; you can make one by taking a paint-stirring stick, about 12" long, and covering about 6" of it with a piece of felt or terrycloth, glued on. It can be made double-sided.

 

My wife can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about autoharp maintenance...

 

Thank you so much for all the info! I wonder why they told me it wasn't an auto harp? They guy at the store did say it was not able to be restored, so I like the rose and will probably hang it. Thanks for the tip about cleaning it, I just couldn't wrap my brain around how to do it. And your wife is quite lovely.

 

Either just wrong, or being hyper-technical, thinking that if it is not made by Oscar Schmidt, it can't be an auto-harp. Like saying if transparent tape is not made by 3-M, it is not really Scotch tape.
There have been court decisions regarding the use of the autoharp name, and other auto-harp related trademarks, but most harpers are comfortable with the autoharp name for this family of instruments, rather than calling them chorded zithers.
(And my wife blushes and thanks you)

 

Find another music store! Fast

 

Favorite zither music: Third Man theme


Sorry, but no zither thread I see is going to dodge this bullet.

 

LOL!!!

 

Nice music; on a non-autoharp style of zither .
Here's another tune on an autoharp: