On 31 Oct 2010, at 16:13, Richard York wrote:

> Henry Mayhew in the 1850's interviewed "Old Sarah" a blind Londonstreet
>   hurdy gurdy player who was taught in the very early years of the 1800's
>   to play what she called the "cymbal".

"Hurdy gurdy" has been used variously in the past to describe a number of very 
different instruments.
I wonder whether "cymbal" is related to "cimbalom" (various spellings), the 
Eastern European  dulcimer?

Francis




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