The Vestige Zither Project


Dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and restoration of America's classic fretless chord zithers.

The Vestige Zither Project is a long-term research initiative dedicated to recovering the history, craftsmanship, engineering, and manufacturing knowledge of America's fretless chord zithers through original scholarship, museum-quality documentation, restoration, experimental reconstruction, and faithful reproduction.

The project is currently documenting the earliest Phonoharp models while building the research foundation for a comprehensive archive of American fretless chord zithers. New historical discoveries, engineering documentation, restoration studies, and publications will be added as the work progresses.

Under Active Development

• Historical research
• Company histories
• Instrument registry
• Restoration & reconstruction studies
• Engineering drawings & CAD models
• Manufacturing methods
• Publications & educational resources