For those interested in the instruments of Watauga Co., NC.

66 Members, Created 1/27/2011 -

Administrators: PDolce (owner) , TwoTrax

Stanley Hicks Dulcimer Kit 1978

From PDolce on 4/27/2011 11:17:21 AM

I recently acquired what is the only known Stanley Hicks dulcimer "kit". It is very interesting to say the least. Stanley has written instructions on the pieces for the would be assembler. The first picture shows exactly what was given to the previous owner, who was a friend of Stanley's.

Here's what the previous owner has to say about it-

"When I brought Stanley home from one of the trips to play in Virginia

(I'm thinking now that it was maybe 1978), he let me see inside his
workshop, which was close to the road outside of the front of his
house.  He showed me the original pattern for the dulcimers, which had been handed down to him from his grandfather, claiming that they were the oldest pattern in the United States.  Stanley was still using them when he made dulcimers.  It was at that moment in time that I discovered that he didn't bend the sides like most makers do, but actually cut them to shape (using a band saw) from a large piece of whatever wood he was using.  So, then he told me that he had a new idea he was trying out, selling kits to people who wanted to make their own dulcimers.  He thought there might be a market for them.  

I told him I'd have to save my money and buy one because it sounded like a fun project.  He gathered up a few pieces and stuck them in a paper bag and gave them to me. I offered to pay, but he refused to accept anything.  I think it was the trip where I had arranged for him to go indian relic hunting at a freshly plowed field on a farm along the New River.  He found about eight nice arrowheads and some miscellaneous stuff that could have been club heads.  He was really happy with his finds.  He said he could tell where the indians had been because he "could smell 'em."  I don't think the kits ever took off as a commercial commodity.  He maybe sold one or two, but that's it."

Page: 1  2  3  4  Last