Gene E, congratulations, I'm salivating. For those who want to salivate along with me, here's a link to what I think Gene is talking about. Right, Gene?

Chet - I read something about that stuff on Stradivari also. Something about the wood being seasoned in the salt water of the sea opening the pores or something. Also that another ingredient of his varnish was ground up gemstones. The conclusion was that not only was he a superior craftsman, but he also got lucky to have on hand the right materials.

All - I was at a store in Salt Lake called "Accoustic Music" picking up a chromatic tuner for my daughters and they have several unusual instruments hanging on the wall. One was a Dulceola, which looked like Bill D's description of a pianolin (hammered dulcimer with tiny keyboard). They had about three things the owner called pianolins but more like what Judy and Jen here have called Vio-Ukes or Ukelins. Cool old stuff. I don't think they were for sale.