It sounds like the instrument that turns up in Australia a lot under a variety of names such as mandolin harp. Thet are like an autoharp without the buttons except the bottom strings are tuned in chords. They were quite big in Australia in the 1920s and 1930s and were sold door-to-door by uni students etc. The price included a course of lessons at a big "academy" in Melbourne (and other cities). They sold thousands but after a while, the people who were running the scheme closed the school and disappeared with the money back to America. It was quite a big scandal at the time. Most of them were relegated to back sheds or wall ornaments and occasionally you even see them in mint condition complete with box and sheet music. Most of the ones I've seen were played with little hammers, like a hammered dulcimer, but I always preferred to play mine with finger picks. There is a French-borm folkie in Melbourne who performs with one a lot and has made a few CDs of the music. Sorry I can't remember his name but maybe someone else can put you on to him.