VINTAGE 1980 HURDY GURDY MADE BY LYN ELDER w PROVENANCE ORIGNAL BILL SIGNED LYN ELDER OTHER ORIGINAL PAPERWORK Start Price USD 999.00 Current Price USD 999.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 1,199.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 18, 2008 End Time Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Location Northridge, CA See more about 'VINTAGE 1980 HURDY GURDY MADE BY LYN ELDER w PROVENANCE' Description Hey there:  This Vintage 1980 Hurdy Gurdy belongs to my boyfriend and he has asked me to sell it for him.  His brother purchased this instrument directly from the maker, Lyn Elder, in 1980, in Northern California. Included with the instrument will be the original bill of sale and the original receipt showing the final payment that was made on this instrument.  The final payment receipt is signed by Lyn Elder.  His brother paid $1,200 dollars in 1980 for this instrument, which is the buy it now price we are currently offering it for!   Also included is the original three page single spaced typed Hurdy-Gurdy Information Sheet that Mr. Elder gave to my boyfriend's brother along with the instrument.  The categories of information on the sheets are follows: If you wish me to photograph the information sheets and email them to you, I can probably do so.  It's way too much to type here!  1. The Model: This instrument is a copy of anonymous German drehleier built circa 1425-1450, one of the oldest extant stringed instruments.  It is a typical country piece, probably built by the player or another amateur woodworker.  The original is very crudely made of pine and oak, with each side formed of two bent pieces pegged together.  It has three strings and a diatonic scale of 11 notes.  In addition to my three-string based on the original, I also build a modified version with four strings (one extra drone) and four extra keys in a semichromatic keyboard, similar to the disposition of slightly later instruments.  The large size of this hurdy-gurdy causes it to have a fuller and mellower sound than most smaller instruments.  2. The Finish:  3. The Strings: 4. Tunings including Three-String Tunings & Four-String Hurdy Gurdy; 5. Adjusting The Bridges; 6. The Cotton Coverings; 7. The Rosin; 8. Total Adjustments; 9. New Tangents; 10. Strap.  In addition to all of the information contained in the above-referenced categories on the three sheets, handwritten notes on the bottom of the third sheet indicate the following: Woods: body parts - oak (English Brown) belly - spruce pegs & crank knob - plum wheel - maple hitchpin - plum Keys - boxwood and rosewood.  Lyn Elder is a specialist in Renaissance wind instruments, including shawm, sackbutt, recorder, crumhorm and flute.  He also builds historical instruments including lutes, viols, early fiddles, hudy-gurdies and crumhorms.  For the past 25 years he has directed The Festival Consort of Northern California, performing music of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries played on authentic period instruments.  He attended Dartmouth College, where he studied math and played and sang music on the side.  After serving in the Army during the Vietnam War, he was apprenticed to a German Master Violinmaker to learn the craft.  He set up shop in California in the 1970's and joined the first of many historical performing ensembles.  He received two NEA grants (1971 and 1977) to study instrument design in European museums and had his work exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution.  His main ensemble, The Festival Consort, has concertized all over California, toured the Western US three times and Alaska twice.  He has played often on TV and radio and made several recordings.  He has now relocated to Vermont and is building a workshop in the town of Bristol. I have included 11 photographs in this listing.  Other than what is referenced above, and typed on the 3 page information sheet, I know nothing else of this instrument.  Please note on the last photograph that there is the beginning of two cracks in the wood on one of the sides of this instrument.  Nevertheless, please feel free to email me with any questions before bidding. Thanks.  Place a Bid!