Remember to "dab" the area...don't "wipe", In case there is residual pencil marks etc,you don't want to rub them off.

I've exposed some "made for xxx" or dedications and poems over the years....Enjoy the quest!

That’s a great idea John. I’ve repacked the dulcimer so won’t be able to try that until I get back home with it in two weeks. I’ll let you know if I’m able to read anything.

Paula, I'm glad that you finally were able to connect with your Chet Hines dulcimer. Enjoy it. Let us know what you find if follow John's suggestion.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

That is SO nice! I always wished some of these instruments could talk and tell the tales of the past....Yours comes pretty close!  A water wet q-tip brushed over the old scratches may bring out enough contrast to read them...It'll evaporate with no harm done...

An update on my Chet Hines Dulcimer!

I was able to make it back to Texas today and am at my in-laws house where I had the dulcimer delivered. I finally got to see it in person. 

I had also found a copy of his book and had it delivered to their house as well. 

imagine my delight when I discovered on page 111of his book a picture of my very dulcimer. The grain is very distinctive and there’s no doubt it is my dulcimer. I’m so very excited to own this wonderful instrument. 

it does look like there may be an inscription visible through the lower sound holes. They look lightly scratched into the inside perhaps with a nail or an awl. I can’t be positive as there is little contrast between the inscription and the wood it’s on. Once I’m back home in Portugal I will try and see if I can bring that out. 

cheers everyone and thanks for your help with this project!

paula

You have a piece of Dulcimer history for sure.

Ken, that’s wonderful. What a great article! I’ll be sure to contact Ron and see if he can give me any more information. I’m starting to feel I have a real treasure with this dulcimer. 

Here is a link to the Ron Ewing article in DPN. https://archive.org/details/dpn-1990-016-03/page/20/mode/1up

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

So Steve, I see a picture of that on The Mountain Dulcimer Lore FB page. Very nice!

Wow, thanks Steve! I’m really excited to actually lay hands on the dulcimer. From the looks of the photos I’ve got, I think it had been strung equidistantly.

cheers,

paula

I would guess your instrument is from the 1960's the lack of an area code on the card might indicate that.

Paula, I am a member of the Mountain Dulcimer Society of Dayton so don't be surprised if they refer you to me.  I own Chet's Hogfiddle pictured in Jean Ritchies Dulcimer People book.  Ron will be the best resource for you though, as he worked on many instruments with Chet.  There is an article in an old Dulcimer Player News about Ron and he recounts those years with Chet.  

Chet also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and gifted a dulcimer to Roy Acuff.  

Thanks Strumelia.  

Try looking at these threads... (it depends on if you are trying to add a photo to a discussion post, or to your profile gallery):

https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/site-questions-how-do-i

It looks like to Mountain Dulcimore Society was founded in 1965 I assume the card included in the case with my dulcimer would date my dulcimer to being from sometime around that. I’m not sure at what point the MDS changed their name. So I at least have a broad range of between say 1964 and his death in 1977. 

Wow. So young. Thank you so much Steve for this additional information. I’ll be curious to see if I can determine a date for my dulcimer. I’ve reached out to the dulcimer society of Dayton (the current iteration of the Mountain Dulcimore Society) to see if they have any additional information but I haven’t heard back yet. 

(I’d try to help you with posting pictures but I’m clearly doing something wrong regarding size)

I have photos but can’t seem to figure out how to post them here.

November 26, 1977 dulcimore maker and historian Chester “Chet Hines” (1921-1977) died of a heart attack while on vacation in Florida at age 56. Chet was born on March 21, 1921.

He was a retired physicist and engineer from Wright-Patterson Airforce Base.
Hines helped found what is believed to be the first dulcimer society/club in America, The Dulcimer Society of Dayton. He also founded the Mountain Dulcimer Society of America in 1965. In 1971 Hines represented Ohio at the Festival of American Folklife, held by the Smithsonian Institution.
Hines was first exposed to the dulcimore at age 8. In 1935 Hines learned to play and build

the dulcimore from his grandfather near Chillicothe, Ohio. He started building dulcimers to sell in 1948 and in 1973 published his book on How to Make and Play the Dulcimore.
Hines appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and one of his dulcimores was in the Roy Acuff collection in Opry Land.

What a lovely instrument!  

Don't now how I missed this but, SWEET!!!

That is a beautiful dulcimer. It looks like the case needs a little repair. I'm sure you'll enjoy it when you pick it up. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I apologize. I’m not sure why my photos are posting so large. I’m sure I’m doing something wrong. 

Hi Steve!

thanks for the great information. Given how influential Mr Hines was in establishing the Dulcimer Society in Ohio, I’m surprised there’s so little information I’ve been able to find. 

I’m assuming that he’s probably deceased at this point but I haven’t been able to find an obituary. 

I’ll reach out to Ron Ewing and the dulcimer society and see if they can supply additional information. 

the dulcimer came in a homemade wooden casket case and had several business cards with it. 

I still haven’t seen the dulcimer in person as I live in Europe now. I had it delivered to my in-laws house in Texas  I’ll pick it up when I’m next in the US  

hopefully I can find a date or serial number inside  

thanks again,

paula

I have a ton of information for you.  Chet Hines was born in Chillicothe, Ohio and built his first Dulcimore with his grandfather in 1935.  He wrote one of the early books on the history and building of the Dulcimore.  Published in 1973.  Ron Ewing was his assistant.  He also started the American Dulcimore Society in the 1960’s. It eventually became The Mountain Dulcimer Society of Dayton, Ohio the longest continuous and likely the oldest dulcimer society in the country.  

Nice looking dulcimore Paula. I know you enjoy it immensely.

Hi all, it’s been a while since I posted here. We moved to to Portugal several years ago and I has sold my dulcimer before we left. (I seriously had to this the herd!)

im getting ready to have a visit back to Texas and that led me to taking a look on eBay to see if there might be an interesting MD to pick up to bring home with me when I return to Portugal. 

i ended up bidding on (and winning) this “dulcimore” by Chet Hines. I think at some point I had borrowed a copy of his book “How to Make and Play the Dulcimore” (1973) from the library. He was also the founder of the Mountain Dulcimer Society in Dayton, Ohio. 

other than that I haven’t been able to find a huge amount about him or his instruments. I’m assuming my dulcimer is from the ‘70s. 

Any additional information anyone might have would be appreciated. I haven’t actually picked up the dulcimer yet. I’ll be retrieving it from my in-laws in Texas in April. 

thanks,

paula