Thank you all for the quick responses!  Robin, I do seem to recall seeing news of these instruments in print.  There might have been an initial article but I also remember a four color print ad (and a big one), like the back cover of the magazine, so "Dulcimer Player News" is a great lead.  (now trying to dig through their archives).  Ken it's funny how close your 3D printed example comes to the way the instrument I'm thinking of melded traditional woods with the "then" modern synthetics.  I'm debating on showing my son this as I know he'll (both offer to make) and remind me of the current size limitations of his current printer, Ha!  I'll keep checking here and will post if I discover anything more.  Kevin.

I think the name of the maker was included in a piece in Dulcimer Players News in the past year or so.  And the fellow had been a member here at FOTMD, if memory serves, and photos were posted.  

I do remember that. What I don't remember is the name of the builder. You might be interested in the work being done by Stephens Luthiere using 3D printed components for making a mountain dulcimer: https://www.stephenslutherie.com/post/hybrid-3d-printed-and-wood-dulcimer

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Sorry, I never heard of, or have I seen, such an object!  I think I would have remembered something like that!

Kevin, that's very interesting. I'm anxious to read the up coming relies. I remember the first dulcimer I ever saw was at Disney Village in Orlando. that was in the early 70's. I wish I paid more attention to the material used of those that were on sale.  

I never was able to get one, but it was in the 90's (possibly late 80's?) that a couple of unique dulcimers were being offered.  The first was a traditional hourglass shape followed by their teardrop about a year later.  An engineer had designed the pair using a molded synthetic body.  Think "Ovation guitar-ish", but for the traditional hourglass or teardrop shapes.

If the molded body wasn't enough, another feature was the peg head (box really), as it was a scroll that held a captive sphere of wood (often of contrasting woods) in the middle of the scroll.  

After a few years, started to hear less and less about these instruments and then I remember they started to sell their Peg Heads as kits, for builders and hobbyists.  The kit showed the secret as the wood sphere was made in two halves as was the peg head/box.  Semi spheres were glued to the peg box halves and then the two halves were glued together.

Curiosity got the better of me on this one which is why I'm reaching out.  I'd also be interested in purchasing one if anyone has one to offer.       Kevin.