This instrument has five tuners so I do not think it is of Eastern European or Asian manufacture. Does anybody have any idea of who the manufacturer would be, please ?
Szeged! There's a spice factory there called Pride of Szeged! They make really superior hot and smoked Paprikas, and a Fish Rub and Chicken Rub blend that I use all the time. You may be able to find them at your local megamart! Make a big pan of Paprikash (chicken and dumplings with lots of paprika) and play your citera while it cooks.
Thanks for the replies. I have a lot to learn.
Seems that my maker is no more as this translation of a press release explains
The Szeged Instrument Factory was established with 50-60 employees in 1953 as a council company with a mixed profile: in addition to the instruments, furniture manufacturing, upholstery and decorations were also operated. It later concentrated on instruments and due to a downturn it was closed in 2004 after it peaked production at 9400 instruments in 2001
This chart gives you a fair idea of what the tunings should be on a Citera..............by the way, a great find!
The pins appear to have a square head -- should not be hard to find a clock-key to match.
The pins appear to be standard zither wrest/tuning pins that will take a 5mm square wrench or socket
The original key does not give the fine control that a long handle wrench does so I will repurpose one of my 'old' tools
My folk Citera arrived today
Made April Fools Day 1981 and never played
Here is a link to Flickr pictures ....
https://www.flickr.com/gp/99248490@N05/71xg25
The pictures show the makers label various details and the original spec sheet.
Any help translating the spec sheet and the suggested tunings will be appreciated greatly!
I found the makers address on Google street view but it is a modern block of flats
I have so far not found any other info on the maker
I will set about getting it into a playable condition over the weekend
So wish me good fortune!
The pins appear to have a square head -- should not be hard to find a clock-key to match.
I believe that the 'Rosebud' carvings may be the best method of identifying the maker
Any help will be gratefully received
Cheers Dave
Rob this is quite beautiful, so thanks Carole and Rob. I played the first DAd version and found it fine as I'm sure the rest are.
Thanks for the "like," Carole. I'd forgotten about this one. May have to learn it again. lol
It would be nice to have a real closeup of those tuning pegs, but I'm betting that they are autoharp pins, for which you can buy a clock-key as a tuning key. When you get it, measure at the top of the pins, across the flats, and I can help you find an appropriate clock-key. They usually run a whopping $4-$6.
Thanks guys I also posted on ED and have been following many internet threads chasing info.
I did not set out to buy this but the lady advertised it as 'Musical Instruments' in amongst the 1000s of acoustic guitars and never amended her add even though I informed her what it was.
I have always been fascinated by the fretted zithers, auto harps etc but never thought to own one unless I made my own.
I got this by default with a single bid and am very happy.
It may well cost me as much again for a decent tuning key.
I will post detailed pictures when the package arrives meanwhile I am hunting for any possible info on a maker
That's a lovely instrument Dave!
Don't forget you can use Google to translate Hungarian webpages to English. It won't be a perfect translation bu tenables you to understand most of the info.
You may benefit greatly from watching Youtube videos of Hungarian citera players in action. It'll show how they utilize all those strings when they strum. Remember also that Youtube has a setting where you can slow the video down to half speed while staying in the same pitch. That way you can watch their hands better.
I transferred this thread into our 'other instruments' forum, btw.
At is happens, we're having a great Citera discussion on ED, here:
http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33962
Search the 'Net on "Hungarian citera" there is a wealth of info.
was browsing Eb** and came across an interesting chromatic dulcimer otherwise known as a Hungarian citera zitherI just won the auction and now need to collect info about citera s that I can understand[Hungarian is not a language that is easily translated]Seems to be a 'C' tuned instrument but what do I do with all those other strings?Seems to be set up like a short scale dulcimer with the black notes on the second fingerboard and drones
"There's no right way, or wrong way to play the dulcimer." Just YOUR way. For many years I used the Herco brand flat-thumb picks. Basically a triangular flat pick with thumb loop. Works well.
I also have picks/strummers made from feather shafts, thin wood, thick leather, thick felt (uke pick), plastic lids, plastic packing strap and zip ties, vegetable ivory and shell.
Picks are a very personal choice. I started with a Herdim because it was given to me. Then I began experimenting with different picks, noting the sounds they produced. I cut picks from margarine lids, old credit cards. and tried different brands and thicknesses. You'll find one that suits your style of playing and feels comfortable. Just have fun. Dulcinina
I am new and I am reading and watching YouTube videos in my efforts to learn as much as I can about the dulcimer. Most of the videos relating to the strumming of "modern" dulcimers, not using a noter and quill, show the user using a loosely held triangular pick. Naturally I have tried to imitate these players but I saw a video where the player was using a Bumble Bee pick and, as I already had one of these, I decided that I would try it. To my amazement my strumming appeared to be greatly improved. I seemed to be strumming the strings in a smoother pattern than when I used my floppy Herdim. Also, the volume is so much louder than before. I am better able to concentrate on my fretting now and it seems as though I am playing better.
My question is this - Have I picked up a bad habit ? Should I persevere with the Herdim ? Thanks !
Yes, I was thinking this through and it didn't make sense - but adjusting the bridge makes perfect sense!! Again thanks to all for your help. Much appreciated.
Doh!! Yer right, Bob! My bad... musta been a Senior Moment. Adjust the Bridge, not the Nut, Blondie!
Ken, I think if the string height at the first fret is fine, but too high at the 7th fret, the bridge/saddle (not the nut) needs to be lowered.
Lowering the action is really pretty easy:
Slack the strings and remove the nut.
Lay a sheet of 400 grit sandpaper face up on a flat surface.
Sand 10 or 15 strokes off of the bottom.
Slip the nut back in place, tighten the outer strings, and check the action height with your nickel.
Repeat as needed...
Thanks and I did try this with the dime and nickel. The dime test was good, however, the string was way above the nickel at the 7th fret. Apparently, I have an instrument where the action needs to be lowered. Thanks to all who shared information. Now to find someone to do it!
Phil has the right idea. It's what we call the Nickel & Dime Action Height. Slide a dime next to the 1st fret. The strings should just touch to top of the dime. Then slip a nickel on top of the 7th fret; again the strings should just touch the nickel. If the strings don't touch, then the action can certainly be lowered.
It's nice to know that MMD uses the Nickel & Dime for their base action.
I just talked to John Hawk who is a dealer for MMD. He told me the action should be the width of a nickel sitting on top of the seventh fret. Most people buy MMD's because of the low action. I have 2 myself and to me the action is perfect.
Look what I found on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysNByKoB5tE
I used his template and it measures 2.5mm at the 7th fret.
How do I measure so you get a better picture?
The ones that I've seen and played were not particularly high. It's an easy enough fix to set the action down where you want. How high is "high" at say the 7th fret?
I was wondering if other MMD owners find the action to be high? I recently acquired a fairly new MMD and the action is killing my fingers!
When you have more than 3 or 4 of a kind of instrument (like dulcimers, banjos, drums, etc) it helps to have names to refer to them, even if the 'name' is only the maker's name.
When I check in with my fiddler husband about what instruments we'll be taking to a party or gig, or simply when we're going to practice at home, it helps us to be on the same page when I refer to a specific banjo by name... the Ramsey, Blondie, Stichter, Hog Sisters, Cockerham, PigHead, Man in the Moon... thus my husband knows immediately which banjo I'm talking about and thus what kind of repertoire/style I'm thinking we might be playing in, and what keys. Plus, it's just more fun!
Since I never eat my instruments, I've never found naming them to have any effect on my ability to sell them. 
heheheh
I have started calling my Ron Gibson "Jenny" (totally unoriginal, she is one of Ron's Jenny Lind models; my other is simply "the other one" or the Red Kite. My other instruments have similarly unoriginal names. "Clouds" (5 string banjo whose fret markers are shaped like clouds), the Short Stalk (short stalk 5 string) the Davidson is a 5 string travel banjo tuned to A named after the maker, a luthier called Phil Davidson, who also made my guitar bodied bouzouki which is called the "8 String". I have two Gibson mandolins called with blinding unoriginality "The 1932" (go on guess when it was made) and the 1923 Snakehead (or, simply "the snakehead"). Then there's the Weber, (named for the former Gibson luthier who built it, not for the barbecue) and so it goes. I agree with the statement never name something you might have to sell.
Sorry for the delay in sending out a sincere thank you for the responses. I'm sending the info to my wife's friend so she can pursue further if she wants. Thanks again.
Phil
I am searching for any examples of Black Oak or Hansen Dulcimers. Kris, one of the original builders, is very interested in tracking them down.
I have an early one of their dulcimers. I would love to talk to Kris!!
Terry that's so great! That large 2-sided tabor drum of yours is quite impressive and 'primitive' looking with its lacing. I bet that lady feels like a Wild Thang playing it. 
So nice that your tabor drum has found a new honorable life of service!
Btw, I put up my five old harmonicas in the For Sale forum. Figured I would start trying to move along instruments I will never play anymore. Part of my Spring cleaning goals to myself. I also went through my spice cabinet like a tornado yesterday! 
They may not be, despite the same name and same middle initial and both having interest in guitars. Be interesting to pursue it further.
In the 1981 Directory of Contemporary American Musical Instrument Makers Thomas F Johnson is shown as a full time instrument maker since 1967 with one employee. He made guitars and dulcimers. I don't think the North Texas State instructor is the same one.
I believe this is who you are asking about: http://music.unt.edu/faculty-and-staff/thomas-johnson
I would not hesitate to contact him via his email on that website. Good luck. 
