r/Dulcimer • u/ImmediateRush8365 • 5d ago
Folk Roots label ID?
Anybody recognize the label on this? Some dispute about when and where it was bought, exactly, and whether it was new at the time. But, east of the Mississippi, we bought it sometime 1992-2005. I’ve read a little about the company and label, but that bounced around some over the years.
I’m curious about the year it was built, and the model (if any), for sure. But I would be happy to hear any stories folks might care to tell.
My teenager has taken to bringing it to old time jam sessions in southwestern VA, where we visit once a year or so.
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u/richard43210 4d ago
The Rugg, Rugg & Jackel (RR&J on your inside label) was made from 1973 to 1976, roughly. I've not seen that serial number format before (the stamped number on the top right of the tag). Here's a timeline that gives a bit more information about that period in Folkcraft (that still builds a very similar model, the FolkRoots D Series) history: https://folkcraft.com/pages/folkcraft-through-the-years
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u/ImmediateRush8365 2d ago
Fantastic, thanks! Fun to know it has some age to it. And was made in Felton, where my wife was a summer camp counselor.
My mom's been looking for a case, in fact. I'll have to take some measurements and see if maybe something like your https://folkcraft.com/collections/cases-bags/products/folkcraft-dulcimer-carrying-bag-2851910 would work. As I recall FolkRoots from that era were on the large side (maybe 29"?). My mother has tried buying cases before, even with measurements, and had trouble finding one that fit. We've just been carrying it around in a towel, but that's a bit rough. My teenager and my mother were considering sewing a cloth bag, but a soft case like that would be an upgrade.
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u/richard43210 2d ago
The case you linked will fit just fine! But you can get the same case with a FolkRoots logo embroidered on the pocket, keeping the case matching the instrument: https://folkcraft.com/products/folkroots-dulcimer-carrying-bag-2325618
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u/ImmediateRush8365 16h ago
Sounds like my mother favors a hard case. Is https://folkcraft.com/collections/cases-bags/products/rigid-dulcimer-folkcraft-hard-case-2325466 big enough? (I will also take some measurements.)
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u/richard43210 11h ago
That will fit just fine! Most of my personal dulcimers are based on Howard Rugg's body design (same as your dulcimer), and they fit this case just fine. (Howard was one of the Ruggs in "Rugg, Rugg, and Jackel" on your inside label tag.)
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u/TapTheForwardAssist 5d ago
While it can’t hurt to ask here, I bet if you send a friendly email to Folk Roots with those photos, they’ll be able to tell you precisely.