Uh, OK, if you say so . . .

[jaycat]

http://worcester.craigslist.org/msd/5739322109.html

[MikeEdgerton]

That's what that model was called. They were sold door to door by the Oscar Schmidt Company of Jersey City, NJ. They are on eBay regularly. Many years ago a pallet of one of these oddities was found brand new in an old warehouse in NJ or so I have been told. Related to the mandolin Harp, the Ukelin and the Autoharp it's a fretless zither. There are a few more here mixed in with images of guitars, mandolins, and harps.

[Jim Garber]

Believe it or not, that is what they were called in those early days of novelty zithers. There used to be some very detailed site for people that collected these things but you can get some info on this web site. This is another site that has lots of info on fretless zithers.

And here is another one that sold in auction.

[barney 59]

I had one of those once. It was a Panama Canal commemorative issue. When was that? 1915 or something? Anyway,never figured out what to do with the thing and eventually it I guess I got rid of it 'cause I don't have it now. Interestingly my then 3, (he'll be 5 soon) Grandson showed up with a similar thing, brand new, made in Russia that I think came out of someplace like The Nature Company.

[David L]

The names of these and similar instruments never fail to entertain. I have a "Pianoette", which has as much to do with a piano as this does to a mandolin.

[Timbofood]

I had a "Hawaiian Tremoloa" once upon a time, it was from one of those old door to door companies. Name escapes me but, you all know who I'm talking about. The ukelin and so on were made by them too, I will slap my head when you refresh the grey cells!

[MikeEdgerton]

I had a "Hawaiian Tremoloa" once upon a time, it was from one of those old door to door companies. Name escapes me but, you all know who I'm talking about. The ukelin and so on were made by them too, I will slap my head when you refresh the grey cells!

Read Post #2 of this thread and see if it comes back to you.

You can read about and see a Tremola here!

[MikeEdgerton]

For anyone looking to learn more about these abominations here is a great site. I just found out that the Harmony company actually jumped into the weird instrument market in the 30's for a short time. I never knew that. Oscar Schmidt under their various company names owned the door to door market for these fretless zithers.

[brunello97]

Nice link, Mike. The listing for Friedrich Menzenhauer (and his abominations) adds some historical detail to the Jersey City locations of the Oscar Schmidt facilities. I remember a conversation here a few years back zooming into those blocks on Ferry Street where the Schmidt buildings were.

Menzenhauer also partnered with Schmidt on mandolins for a while. The iconic O/S initials in the scratchplate started out as M/S.

Mick

[Jeff Mando]

Great history, but you know what they say...........that and a nickel will get ya a cup of coffee! (at least in 1930's coffee....)

I had several of the Ukelin (sp?) style autoharp/zither/bowed psaltery type of instruments. They are actually fun to play and sound nice. You'll find several videos on youtube of people making nice music with them. One I had was like new, pretty much unplayed with the original box, bow, instructions, etc. I actually got $250 for it on eBay, but I know that was just silly luck. I'd say $35 would be more in the ball park.

[jaycat]

A while back there was a junque store around here that had an old Marxophone for sale. It was not in good shape. Someone (on the Cafe?) warned me about possibly dangerous lead dust being a problem. Anyway it was cool to learn that Ray Manzarek played one on Alabama Song.

[allenhopkins]

Katherine Rhoda of Maine owns dozens of zither-family oddities, and gives workshops demonstrating them. I've attended her workshops at New England Folk Festival (NEFFA) the last two years -- both times I was scheduled to give a workshop the following hour in the same room -- and found them fascinating.

You can look her up on YouTube for quite a few vids of her playing different instruments. Here's a Marxophone example:

[Bertram Henze]

That Marxophone seems to have been the origin of a whole class of instruments:

[multidon]

There was a thread some time ago about these instruments and at time I stated that the Marxophones were made by the same company that made Marx toys. This new thread gives me an opportunity to correct that. I was wrong and I hate it when I pass on information that turns out to be incorrect. Those instruments were made by a manufacturing collective that made only instruments I apologize for the earlier error.

[Mark Gunter]

That Marxophone was interesting for its tremolo-style sustain.

[Timbofood]

Thanks Mike but, it's the "Marxochime" company. They had a "community" where the members made the things. You're right Don, the toy company was another "Marx", the instruments were just different toys in a way.

[Kevin Stueve]

saw a "Hawaiian Tremola" in an antique store in Paxico Ks, last weekend. weird looking thing, it was missing a couple of critical pieces or I might have brought it home.