Medium

wood, metal

Dimensions

LOA 37 3/8″; DOA 2 1/4″; WOA 4 5/8″

Accession Number

385

Description

DESCRIPTION: A 6 stringed tapered box. 15 frets under the three strings on the left, none under the others. It was played lying on a table, plucked with the right hand and stopped with the left on the fretted strings only.

History

LABEL NOTES: Belonged to William Dettmar (1832-1909), the last Salem gunsmith. Andrew William Charistian Dettmar was a a gunsmith. He was born in Hanover, Germany. He and his brothers emigrated to America in September 1849. Dettmar apprenticed in the gunsmith’s trade in Germany but worked as a journeyman with gunsmith Timothy Vogler in Salem, NC. He was formally admitted as a member of the community in 1858 having “resided in Salem for a number of years already.” He married Susan Kettner in 1869. In 1886 he was listed as a gunmsith and locksmith in a shop on Main [St.] between Cemetery and New Shallowford [Rd]. He suffered a stroke in 1909, was paralyzed, and died soon after.

Old note on accession card: B.J. Pfohl says Bill Powell, south of town, had one like it only rougher.
RELATED NAME: Dettmar (owner)

This 19th century scheitholt is a German folk instrument that survives even today in an adapted form as the Appalachian dulcimer. It is held across the lap or flat on a table when played. All the strings, melody and drone, are strummed together with the right hand. A wooden slide held in the left hand is used to fret the melody strings.

Credit Line

Old Salem Collection