WORKING CONDITION: Good. All button hammers work well and return to their home position quickly. The strings are in decent shape and can be tuned. See below for tuning tools and methodology.

PHYSICAL CONDITION: Good. The metal and wood parts are all functional with no major blemishes. The Oscar Schmidt label is visible, and the Marxophone placard is sharp and legible.

INVENTORY #59035

BRAND: Oscar Schmidt International

MODEL: Marxophone

FUNCTION: Stringed Musical Instrument

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This listing is for a Vintage 1920's Oscar Schmidt International Marxophone w/ Extended Bass Strings. The Marxophone is a unique American fretless zither invented by Henry Charles Marx (patented in 1912) and manufactured primarily between the 1920s and 1950s. It is best known for its "spring-action" metal hammers that bounce against the strings, creating a distinct, shimmering mandolin-like tremolo.

SPECS:

• Right Hand (Melody): Depresses a row of 15 metal keys (spring steel strips tipped with lead weights). Holding a key down causes the hammer to bounce repeatedly on a pair of melody strings, producing a tremolo. A quick tap produces a single note.
• Left Hand (Chords): Strums four sets of accompanying chord strings (typically C major, G major, F major, and D7).
• Tuning: The melody section covers two octaves tuned to a C major diatonic scale (white keys on a piano), meaning it has no sharps or flats.
• Tuning Tools: A zither wrench, autoharp tuning wrench, or a 5mm socket is needed and not included.
• Tuning Procedure:
  • Use a chromatic electronic tuner to ensure each string is tuned to the correct note.
  • If the instrument has paired strings, tune each string in the pair to the same note (unison), sometimes using standard guitar wire.
    

ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: This item comes as seen in photos and does not include any accessories.

UNPACKAGED WEIGHT: 7 lbs.

UNPACKAGED DIMENSIONS: 20" x 6" x 13"