A reader of the web site, William S., sent in the following photos and email:

"I have a zither with the Franz Schwarzer label which has a very ornate inlay and unusual string board. It has intricate inlays of mother of pearl and wood. It has a serial number 9809 on the throat of the 5 string. It has a table and fitted box with various tools associated with tuning. I would send pictures of the instrument if you have any interest in seeing it."

This certainly is a beautiful instrument. This particular model is referred to as a "Perfecta," or "Kreuzsaitige" (cross stringed) zither. With zithers of this design, the contrabass strings cross at an angle to the zither's bass strings. Your instrument, serial number 9809, dates to 1910. Thanks for sharing the photos.

The apparent perrfecta "A" of my father also came with a table, now with a cousin in west bend..

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Also, like the style A, a work of art.

I'm wondering how it sounds. The way it is constructed seems to me to be more solid than the usual method used for perfektas. The weak spot is the arm for the contra basses. I have two perfektas and they both have pulled up at ;the end of the bass arm. Could anyone out there compare the sound of these Schwarzers to a Meinl or a Wunshe? Thanks.

Ken Bloom
http://www.boweddulcimer.org