Franz Schwarzer - Model 25

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Franz Schwarzer - Model 25

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This photo of a Schwarzer Large Model #25 was sent in by a reader of the web site, Leslee Lindstrom. She writes:

"I inherited my great-grandfather, Jacob Dugwyler's Zither which was made, I assume from the sticker inside, Franz Schwarzer, Washington M.O. My Mother told me stories of how he would play the Zither & his violin when she was small. I also have several sheet music books that he played from. He immigrated to the United States from Switzerland & became a citizen in the early 1900's. I also have his naturalization papers. I feel so lucky to be able to hold this bit of history in my hands."

"Large Model" zithers by Schwarzer had 3 extra contrabasses, giving the instrument a total of 35 strings. They also were manufactured with genuine rosewood, or a rosewood burl veneered top, as opposed to imitation rosewood. The instrument, serial number 10466, dates to 1919 and would have originally sold for ~ $64. A nice family heirloom and thank you for sharing the photo and story.
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Schwarzer Large Model #25
Schwarzer Large Model #25
schwarzer_10466.jpg (117.43 KiB) Viewed 2049 times
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