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Some strange instruments appeared in catalogs in
the '30's and '40's. Most were zither-like in appearance, and quite a few combined
instruments to create hybrid subspecies that did not live very long. One such instrument,
made by the Marx & Marx Company of Chicago, is the Marxolin. It combines zither-style
strings tuned in chords with a complete bowed psaltery. It is tuned in C and the four
chorded strings are C, G, F, and G7. I've collected three hybrid catalog instruments over the years: this Marxolin, a Marxophone (by the same company), and a Ukeline. The Ukeline was given to me by a good friend (thanks, Cheryl), and the other two I paid around $35 each for at antique stores around the Monterey Bay area. The hook on the side was evidently to fasten through the player's belt so the instrument hung down easily for bowing (right hand) and strumming (left hand). Unfortunately, the original bow did not come with the instrument. |