Yes, They are old wood screw type tapered threads.  If it was a modern instrument I would bore the holes out and put banjo 5th friction type tuners in maybe. I just want it to look as original as possible.  Being a bit difficult to tune is ok. 

I don't think it's worth a ton of money that would be devalued with mods, but I like the idea of it being like it was back when a family might have used it for a night's entertainment.  

I can understand trying to balance function with preservation, since its such an old instrument.

On simple dulcimers, at times ive put a wingnut onto a threaded eyebolt before installing it, that way after I get it tuned up, I can "lock" the eyebolt in place by tensioning the wingnut against the wood. Obviously that wouldnt apply to a historic instrument, since you wouldnt want to dent the wood lol.

Am i understanding you correctly that you are wedging a toothpick into the bored hole that the tuner sits in, because there is that much extra space?

I've already had them out. The holes were too wallowed to hold any tension.  I put a toothpick in each hole, and somewhat successfully got it tuned to CGcc.  

When it was cataloged back in the 90s, It only had the 3 eyebolts. Someone forced the 4th in since so that hole is slightly larger.  The notes said "three eyebolts not original"  and "recently refinished".

I used an eyebolt for a tuner myself on a build once. It went all the way through, so I used one with machine threads and a lock nut to tension it.  That wont work here.  Honestly, I think I'll just stick with the toothpick repair if it is working.  It seems like the least intrusive fix.  I have a little tiny baseball bat on my desk that used to be a pen.  It might make a good tuning lever.

I dont think ive ever seen an eyebolt tuner with a hole drilled in it for the string that would definitely be cool to see. I would advise you to move carefully and slowly while removing the eyebolts and installing the new ones, in order to avoid and damage to the instrument. Sounds like a pretty fun and rewarding project youve got ahead of you.

Personally, I like to stick something like a screwdriver or dowel through the eye, and use that as a lever to tune eyebolts up and down. Makes it a million times easier for me

While this instrument seems to have old ball ends that cant be removed, which serve as an anchor for the loop end strings, I have actually built several with nails for string anchors for ball end strings. On mine, the hole that the nail sits in is ever so slightly larger than the actual nail, so the nail can be removed easily when there is no tension on the string, but is held firmly in place when the string is tuned up. 

Thanks!

I bought 4 new eyebolts today.  I plan to save the originals, but "age" the new ones, maybe drill some string holes and turn the shank down a bit for easier tuning.  

That's a really cool instrument. It might be possible to tune it up with 4 strings if you could swap the oversized eyebolt out for one that is smaller and more similar to the others. I love the idea of using a ball end from a string as part of the anchor for loop end strings. Its so simple but so clever.

Thanks for posting the photos and letting us hear it

Tips for if you try bowing it:
- Clean the strumming/bowing part of the strings well with some alcohol on a clean cloth. The strings likely have some finger grease or gunk on them from strumming with hands- and that will prevent the bow from catching and making a proper sound- all you'd get are squeaks.
- Make sure there is plenty of rosin on the bow hair (and again, no finger residue)... or again, all you'd get are nasty squeaky sounds.

It only had 2 strings when I found it.  They appeared to be old loop end banjo strings over some old ball ends.  I added 2 more light gauge strings.  I used some pull off ball ends, but I just temporarily lassoed the nails so they have 2 strings each.  I assume that's how it was set up. It has one oversized eyebolt that interferes with the another.  I need to fix that, and I'll put some new ones on.

I have been having fun. I have tried bowing it, but that wasn't a huge success. I mostly play clawhammer banjo, I'm a but awkward . 

Thank you for all the photos of your TMB. I found the attachment of the strings to be interesting. It looks like ball end strings with a nail going through the ball. Am I seeing this correctly? If so, it sure doesn't make changing strings easy. It is, however, a fine example of a TMB. I'm sure you will receive much joy from playing it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Oh, thanks for the photos!  You've got a gem there! 

I believe it is a old one, but not 1800s.  I was a little bit familiar with Tennessee Music Boxes and sent some pictures to a friend, who passed them on to Sandy Conatser, who co-wrote THIS article.

She recognized the style of the writing on the back and checked her records.  Turns out she had documented this very box at the home of Ellis Truett back in 1994 as part of his collection.  The attached picture is hers from then.  She estimates 1920s-30s.  I was watching her webinar on these things and I believe she uses a picture of my fretboard here.  

These are all the pics I took so far, but the light wasn't cooperating. Mr.Truett passed some years ago and his collection is on display in The Latta, Selmer Tennessee.   No idea how this one found it's way to a vendor mall in McKenzie TN. He did some buying and selling along I believe.

By the way, the tape was intact and just said "dulcimer".  I peeled it off. It crumbled and I realized then it had been there for a while.  At least since 1994 apparently. 

Wow, that may be a historic example. Can you get a good photo fo the writing on the back? I mean the old painted writing, not the tape.

Thanks!

Here are a few pics, they were too big to upload.  I found it in an antique mall Sunday.  Didn't take much to get it more or less playable.  I'll get it to a qualified test pilot soon.

https://imgur.com/a/pje9EC5

That's a nice looking antique Tennessee Music Box dulcimer!
I bet it's happy to be playing a tune for you!

Cool TMB!  Happy strumming!

Sorry, I really don't know how to play the dulcimer.  I found this at an antique store the other day.  As a builder of folk instruments myself, I found the history and construction interesting.