My New Cimbalom

So I returned to Palmer to buy the cimbalom. Haven't got it upstairs yet, but here are some early pictures of it, partly dissasembled.

That suggested to me that it may have a Moravian source, which is a Protestant group from what is now the Czech Republic. Paul Gifford mentions Moravia in his book and suggests that the early Moravian designs had some influence on the Hungarian Concert Cimbalom (page 189, "Hammered Dulcimer", Paul M. Gifford, Scarecrow Press, 2001). [But see May 2004 note - I changed my mind.]

It's clearly not all original. There was no lid, but the molding around the top edge looks like it was added to the case - the finish is not the same quality. And the pedal is obviouls a low-buck fabrication. The lyre is made from what I think is an old drawer front (it has the slot for the bottom on the back and the heart and other figure are cut by a talented by non-expert hand, as is the pedal, which is connected to the lyre by a door hinge! Coat hanger wire to the damper levers completes the naive effect. I like it.

The Moravian theory is probably wrong. More likely is Hungarian, as Bethlehem Steel imported many Hungarian workers in the early 20th century to work the mines and plants. Slovaks were also brought over, and in fact there's a recording available Slovak Csardas: Dance Tunes from the Pennsylvania Coal Mines 1928-1930

Actually, Hungarian may be off as well. The "Bartos" surname seems to be Czech, tho Slovak is also a possibility. These nationals were also imported to Pennsylvania for coal and steel work, and have cimbalom traditions, so it makes sense.

Meantime, I'm working on getting it up and running. I now have it mostly in tune. Big Sound.

I need to dope the some loose pins. Because several adjacent bass pins are loose I feared a cracked block - under a metal plate held to a huge iron bar with huge carraige bolts - which is why I'd be terrified to start unbolting things to have a look - afraid it might implode.

But I pulled the middle of the group and ran a probe around and looked with an led, and I don't SEE a crack - so hopefully dope will do it. I've got fresh wire coming from The Instrument Workshop in Oregon - and actually I'm missing the double of the low D - big wound one. I have a set of console piano bass strings, so I might get lucky, otherwise it will be interesting finding the replacement - tho I don't think it's essential.

Concert Cimbalom in decent shape - now in my collection