Description: The autoharp is a member of the zither family of chordophones. A luthier named Karl August Gutter of Markneukirchen, Germany who built the “volkzither” who could be considered the predecessor of the autoharp. Karl August Gutter applied for his British patent in 1883-1884 for the volkzither. Charles Zimmermann continued his work in improving the instrument. He applied for his patent US 257808 and was awarded his patent in 1983. Zimmerman gave up improving upon on his own instrument and then he continued to improve the volkzither. Charles Zimmermann was not the only manufacturer of the autoharp during the 1900s. Other manufacturers included the Phonoharp Co of Boston Massachusetts USA, International Music Corporation Hoboken New Jersey USA, George Orthey and instruments and the Oscar Schmidt Companies Jersey City USA. In the 1950s a transducer microphone was added to the instrument for amplification however this method did not cover the full amplification of the instrument. In the 1970s Harry DeArmond produced their electro-magnetic bar that is mounted underneath the strings of the autoharp. Oscar Schmidt manufactures their own electromagnetic pickup.

The Autoharp Trade Dispute: In North America a dispute about the autoharp centred between the two makers George Orthy and his competitor “Oscar Schmitt”. In the 2910’s a litigation was filed by George Orthey of "Orthy Instruments" versus "Oscar Schmidt”. This ruling suggested that Oscar Schmidt could only apply its stylized logo upon the autoharp. Orthley Instruments continued to improve the development of the autoharp, since the ruling Orthley Instruments uses the name “dulci-harp”.

Tunings: Originally the autoharp was tuned to a diatonic scale. Although 12-key autoharps are fairly common place there are many unusual damper configurations and tunings ranging from three dampers and diatonic tunings. Some rare specimens of autioharps were tuned in pentatonic (five note scale) and other autoharps tuned in a mix of diatonic and chromatic. Early autoharps once only had three dampers the amount of dampers increased during the development.

Playing Techniques: When the autoharp is played it is held upright and close to the chest either sitting or standing. The fingers of the left press each damper thus producing a chord. The chords are arranged in major, minor and dominant seventh chords. 

Anatomy of the autoharp: The damper assembly for the auto harp consists of two raised parallel sides that hold the bars in place. Each of the dampers have two individual return springs floating underneath. There are a total of 12 bars, felt is applied on the bottom of the bar and placed in specific locations to produce the chord when played. A tuning wrench is used to adjust the tension and tuning pins for the autoharp the same technology is widely applied on many plucked zithers and dulcimers alike.

Citations: Bibliography -New Grove Dictionary of Music Vol. 1 A-F. Web Sites - autoharp.org > fretlesszithers.org [early history of the autoharp] > Google Books [Autoharp Owners Manual by Mary Lou Orthey, Ivan Stiles] > ivanstiles.com [The True History of the Autoharp by Ivan Stiles] - Makers and vendors: Zimmerman autoharps Dolgeville New York, USA > Ortheyinstruments.com >