Edsel also used the paper label inside. I did look a little closer at the carving. It does appear to look a bit morr like Edsels carving. The only thing that dosent look right is the way thr martin is written, just a lot different than the signature on the label in mine. Maybe a closer look inside will tell.
I don't believe it's a Fred. Fred told me he always used the "Egyptian" head on the peghead. The pegs look very similar to Fred's tho'. Fred also used a paper label inside the instrument; no "signature" on the back of the peghead. I do not believe it's a Fred. That being said, I think it could be an Edsel.
Hog chitterlings. I've always liked chittlins, but never ever again.
The hospital actually reported this to the HD.
As far as I know, I'm the only one. I have a very very sensitive stomach. About every 90 days I have an episode. But this was different. Thought I was going to die. Scared me and my wife.
Not out of the woods yet, but at least I am home.
George. I have one of Edsels very first dulcimers a coffin shape. Later he and his brother seemed to use the same style. Looking at the signature on the peg head , it is different than the way Edsel signed. I would tend to say it is a Fred Martin. Rob Lackey here on fotmd has a Fred Martin , he may be able to compare the writing on the signature. Nice find, Kevin.
Too bad you got sick, Terry. I had food poisoning a few months ago and was surprised how long I suffered from it. Your case must have been worse if you ended in the hospital. I hope you're back on your feet and strumming happily soon.
Well, an Edsel had all that funny chrome work on the front grill.....
Terry! 
Gee i am glad you are here to tell the tale! That must have been very bad to put you in the hospital for two days . Did anyone else get sick? Did you need to report it to the health dept?- I once did after getting sick on frozen turkey burgers...wanted to be sure others didn't have to suffer, especially seniors or children.
Poor Terry! Big hug to you. I sincerely hope you are all better by next week.
Unfortunately, I had to cancel my "gig" scheduled for tomorrow morning. I just returned from a two nights at the hospital. Severe case of food poisoning.
Feeling netter, bit still weak.Rescheduled for next Tuesday.
Blondie, that was a great idea. I am sure you were much appreciated.
My friends and I just recently played at a nursing home and decided to just go up and down the halls caroling instead of having the director and aides bring the seniors to us... It worked out quite nicely. We paused where people were in their rooms and sang a couple tunes and moved on. Our set is about the same as has been mentioned previously, but we added Go Tell It On the Mountain and they clearly know that one and will/did sing along!
Cat, I hope your fingers and hands feel better so you can play your music. I know you can find your way to make it more comfortable and lots more satisfying to be able to play your dulcimers.
Keep strumming those sweet strings, even if it is just for a little while it sure brings peace for me.....
You all are my angels. You have given me so much hope to what felt like an impossible situation.. Thank you and bless each of you.
I sang in 2 semi-professional choirs for 10 years each until a vocal cord was nicked and I could no longer sing. I couldn't
play my clarinet or flute. I loved my dulcimers and then the finger problem. Now I have hope and music again.
Recently picked this up after doing as much research as I could. Has the same look/design as either Edsel or Fred. There was another brother, Wade, but from what I'm finding he didn't build many dulcimers, it was Fred and Edsel.
They both used the same design as far as the dulcimer body, the biggest difference being the carvings on the "scroll".
Fred's carvings were, from what I've seen, were a bit more "rustic", where it seemed Edsel's were more refined. I looked at some of Edsel's figure carvings and the style seems to be consistent with what I'm seeing on the dulcimer itself.
I can see no label or signature inside, although looks like there may have been at one point, but really can't tell for sure.
The seller included 2 sweet old vinyl LP's. The Mill Run Dulcimer Band, and Edsel Martins Appalachian Dulcimer Music. Both in great condition and play great with no skipping.
The Edsel one has Photos on the back of him holding his dulcimer, It looks liek this one, although the photo is grainy and you can't see the figure carved clearly at all, the style is definitely the same.
I have posted pictures of the dulcimer, The album cover, a couple of photos of Fred Martin to compare the carving styles.
Let me know what you think!!
And I'm only guessing here, so am curious what you all think.
That's cool Sam! I wouldn't be surprised if his dulcimer comes down from that wall and becomes a well-prized musical instrument, as it was born to be 
(BTW, what net site do you have?)
Bob, I did tell him about this site and how it's grown and that it is the friendliest site on the net (besides mine :) ). He sounded very interested. I was telling him about Strumelia's wonderful tutorials, which actually gave me my start at playing, and it sounded like he still has an interest in learning. I'm hoping to meet Jim and his son soon.
It's great that you're dedicated to this 'investigation'. a veritable history sleuth 
I wonder if the owner knows how interested people are of the 'decoration' hanging on his wall!!
Thanks Sam, it will be fun to hear from these two men about the instruments. Great that you are sharing this story with us.
I'm also thinking that with better photos, someone here might have some input.
Tony, I agree in essence with everything you've said, but I think the drum machines are more versatile than you give them credit for. With those that you control with foot pedals, you can tap the machine on and off, of course, but you can also tap to different beats, tap to pause while you play something out of sequence, and more. In other words, you are not as "locked in" as you might imagine but can learn to control the machine very well, even spontaneously.
But still, I find it more impressive when a musician can creat the rock groove or the blues groove or the Latin groove or whatever without using electroni gadgets and only playing their instrument.
Thanks for sharing this fascinating adventure with us Sam!
Sounds like a good deal; dinner and researching an interesting dulcimer. Looking forward to what you find out about this dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Welp ... just got off the phone with Jim. He's the gentleman that purchased the dulcimer I saw in the restaurant. Jim doesn't have any info other than he purchased the instrument in North Carolina some years back. He actually bought two with plans of taking lessons being offered near his home at the time in North Carolina. He didn't take the lessons and hasn't pursued the dulcimer. He thinks the one I saw may have been made in the 70's but isn't sure. He does not know who built it or where for sure. I asked if he'd looked inside through the sound holes, he has not but will and agreed to let me know if he finds a builder label in either of the instruments.
The owner of the restaurant will gladly let me look closer at the one there and photograph it as long as he is present. His father owns them both and lives next door. If the father is home, I will be able to look at the second dulcimer as well. I think it will be well worth the price of a GREAT dinner to get a chance to look at the instruments, so, that's my plan, to call ahead and get a time that both men can be present and that I can see and photograph both dulcimers.
The best article I've seen on chord playing in DAA was written by Merv Rowley (RI.P) several years back Really comprehensive chord charts and much more You can read it here:
http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/files/articles/31/Learning_Chord_Melody_Style.pdf
Diana, the Roman numerals that we use to refer to chords have nothing to do with fret numbers. We use those Roman numerals no matter what instrument you are playing. Referring to Roman numberals for chords allows us to transpose from one key to another. In the key of D, D major is I, G major is IV, and A is V. In the key of C, C major is I, F major is IV, and G major is V. That is the case whether you are playing the dulcimer or the piano or just talking about music and describing the chord changes of a song. Again, it has nothing to do with frets. Instead, it has to do with the chord associated with each scale position. If the first note of our scale is D, then the fourth note of the scale is G, and the G major chord will be referred to as IV. If we wanted a minor chord associated with a scale position, it would be written in lower case Roman numerals, as in ii, or iv.
And remember that even in a DAd tuning, we might not play in the key of D. I just arranged a simple version of "WIll Ye No Come Back Again" in the key of G but tuned DAd. The G chord will be the I and the C the IV and the D the V. Note how those Roman numerals are determined by the key of the song and not the fret position.
I have to admit that I mostly play in 1-5-8 tunings. But I usually tune DAd or CGc on my standard dulcimer, occasionally going up to EBe. And I tune AEa or GDg on my baritone. When I play chords i don't think "now I'm moving from G to C." . Rather, assuming I'm on my baritone tuned to G, I think "now I'm moving from I to IV." That way I don't have to think about how my dulcimer is tuned and don't have to do any fancy transpositions. I just play the same on any instrument in any 1-5-8 tuning.
There are plenty of chord charts floating around the internet for the more common dulcimer tunings, so you can easily find chords to play when you are tuned DAA. Check out the attached file by Stephen Seifert, for example.
Sorry all, spent the day at the old place at Brooks yesterday, very poor cell signal so I didn't even try to call the number I was given. I'm at the house in town today to attend grandson's Christmas program, I'll try to call today and see if I can learn any more.
The one I've heard of most is called a Beat Buddy and I think they make a small verson called the Beat Buddy mini. Basically the device comes with a bunch of preset rythms that it can play but I think you can also record one of your own. You can also sequence them so, for example, you can have a quick drum turnaround sequenced in between two rhythms, and you click with your foot to move from one to the next.
My feeling about this stuff is mixed. I've seen some great performers make use of these devices, and if that keeps the costs down (by not employing a percussionist) and allows venues to hire solo acts that still want to rock out, I understand. But I'd rather just hear a musician play. Don't get me wrong; I dig the groove Butch Ross or Bing Futch tries to lay down, and I'm a frustrated rock and roller myself. But for the dulcimer? I'd rather hear the dulcimer alone and see what the player can do without all those devices.
If you go to you tube and type in Beat Buddy demo you'll find some clips of how the device can be used. I'm sure there are other brands out there, too, but that's the one I remember most.
Do you have any experience with drum electronic devices or other types that provide backup rhythm
pros ànd cons?
Nellie, the head of the screwdriver should be as wide as the slot in the screw head. It can be little wider if the screw is not recessed in to the top of peg. If it is narrower, you can still use it, but it is more likely to damage the screw head. I am guessing that you have mechanical friction tuners that use a flat head screwdriver. If you have open geared guitar tuning machines, you will need a Phillips screwdriver. In that case you will need a #2 Phillips head screw driver.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I've heard back from the owner of the restaurant and the dulcimer. He has another next door at the inn he operates. I haven't seen it. He didn't have much info but told me that his dad might have more. His dad is the purchaser of one of the dulcimers, I'm not sure which. The owner very graciously gave me his dad's name and number. I'll try to call him today and see if he has any further details about the dulcimer or it's builder. Here's part of the owners message back to me.
"We have 2 one was build in Boone North Carollina 30+ years ago the other is local but I don't have any info on it. My dad may he was teh one who bought it".
Thanks Robin, I got a message off to the restaurant owner. Hopefully I'll get a reply and go from there.
Happy anniversary, Sam!
Hope you are able to learn more about the instrument!
Want to thank everyone sooooo much for the input and info. I love old handcrafted dulcimers and I don't get to see that many right in my own back door, so to speak. I'm going to try to arrange a visit to the restaurant when the manager is there.
Very cool. It sure does look old. It has a lovely shape to it, and the top end of the box is very interesting... not like most I have ever seen. The heart cut-outs are so lovely and scream "folk art". Hopefuly you can get more info on it! Love to see more details (particularly the peg box!).
Thanks for sharing this. (What State are you in?)
Bob I did try to get a more detail shot of the tuning head. It was dark up in that corner and if I used flash that close it just burned it out. Still hoping to get more details and more photos. Thanks for your response.
I'm in Southern WV. The restaurant is near Pipestem State Park.
thanks Ken on the naming of the "weeping hearts". cool. These are on a book that I got years ago on Dulcimers. aloha, irene
the bottom hearts look very much like a dulcimer that I got at an antique store in S.L.C. for $40.00 and fixed it up and put banjo tuning machines on it. It was his first one. I've got that on loan and I'll see her tomorrow and see who it's made by. I also got another one at the same place for same price, it was the maker's #4......it's not as good as the first one. Finding old dulcimers is soooooooooooooo fun!! aloha, irene
The soundholes are called "weeping hearts". I made a few dulcimers with those holes...
It's cool, and it looks pretty old, but using the guitar-style frets is a relatively modern twist. Looks like a few frets are missing from their slots.
Maybe the restaurant manager will let you carefully remove it to try it out? They probably stuck it to the wall with screws driven through the soundholes.
That's how an old John Maxwell dulcimer was attached to the wall of a T.G.I.Friday's, before they tore it off and sold the wrecked dulcimer on eBay. I won it, and carefully reglued the splinters back together. I should think somebody would have had the sense to look for screws attaching it to the wall...
Very cool. It sure does look old. It has a lovely shape to it, and the top end of the box is very interesting... not like most I have ever seen. The heart cut-outs are so lovely and scream "folk art". Hopefuly you can get more info on it! Love to see more details (particularly the peg box!).
Thanks for sharing this. (What State are you in?)
Thanks Strumelia and Lexi. It'd be great if I could get it off the wall for better photos to post here.
Stephen Seifert DAA chord chart.pdf - 156KB
