Autoharp

The autoharp is a zither-like musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers[?] which, when depressed, mute all the strings other than those that form the desired chord. With the initial "a" capitalized, it is a registered trademark of the the Oscar Schmidt Company[?].

Autoharps were first produced in Germany in 1890. They are have been commonly used in the United States as bluegrass and folk instruments.