tuning pin styles

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Justin

tuning pin styles

Post by Justin »

When did zither builders switch from oblong tuning pins to the square tipped "zither pins" one finds today?
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Dave
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Re: tuning pin styles

Post by Dave »

The zithers that I've seen from the latter part of the 1800s have these rectangular style tuning pins. It certainly causes a problem when the tuning key becomes disassociated from an instrument, as these are no longer made. Why squared pins gained favor, I do not know. It may have been a material and cost saving measure, but this is just a guess. Rather than a quick switch to square tipped pins, there was likely a gradual transition as a zither maker used up their stock and, if business was slow, this would have taken a number of years. I own a Schwarzer from 1912 that has rectangular pins. I suspect that a number of zithers made after this date do too.

I'm sure a better answer is out there, somewhere. :D
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