Yeah -- CC did make a series of kits with pre-cut soundholes, and that may indeed be what you encountered
seagull soundholes
This didn't go from my phone to here, so trying again:
Ken
I don't need to tell you, dulcimers can look better on line then in person. I went to see it with a friend, I was helping her. If it was a 'cripple creek' kit it was made terribly. I told her, she did not want it. Too many problems & where some could be fixed in the end it would still be poorly made.
I did enjoy checking out the videos & story of Jonathan Livingston, I had forgotten about the seagull.
So all was not lost, thank you. Always lots of info to be learned on this journey.
Another possibility would be Richard and Denise Wilson of Manitou Beach, MI.
They did a variety of soundhole shapes and inlay work, including seagulls.
Just saw a picture of someone who bought a "seagull" dulcimer that had the Cripple Creek label inside. I'd say that' what you have...
Ah! You waned to which Maker used that seagull shape! Now it's clear. You may be right; I do seem to remember the Ford's using a seagull on some of their dulcimers...
No special "dulcimer name" for any dulcimer soundholes that I know of ('f-holes' have been called that by violin folks for hundreds of years); unless the builder called these "Jonathan Livingstons".
'Seagull' sounds good to me.
updated by @ken-hulme: 07/27/17 06:47:56AM