1890's Hartmann Bros & Reinhard Bowlback, rare

[Baddoghouse]

Found this at an antique shop $125 as a wall hanger. Took a closer look and it was in perfect condition, fretboard is straight all the way up the frets. Two small cracks along the back rib seams and few inches long. I can only find 2 other mandos on the interbet existing by "HB&R" who has zithers and harp guitars at the New York Museum

[brunello97]

Fair play to you. Looks like a fine instrument. I appreciate the sleek bowl profile, if that isn't a photo distortion.
Allen or Jim or one of the NYers here might have more information on the Hartmann Bros. and Reinhard.
The veritable Lugwumps website lists them as active from "1890-1901".
What role they played in the manufacture vs labeling on this instrument is tbd.

Did you say that you purchased the instrument? Have you played it?

Mick

Rotated the label image for posteriority.

[Baddoghouse]

Ive still to buy proper strings , so i havent played tuned up, standard yet. Ive most all .9 strings and messing around with random open tunings. Its sustains forever and has a super odd (but musical/no buzz) resonance harmonic quality Ive never heard in an instrument before ever, maybe due to the open tuning/drone strings, I dont know.
If youre at all curious, Im going to try and record, isolate the harmonic anomaly sometime this week, but not in standard tuning, Im scared to death of ruining the neck, its perfectly straight. I only find 3 others on the internet and registry, one is busted in pieces, the other a large crack across the top, the last one looks playable, was selling for $300, very plain though. And alao found and old print ad. One zither in the New York meusem and various harp guitars.