Model Nr. 1/Nr. 1A
It looks as if the development of the Boehm Models Nr. 1-4 had been finished around 1905. In later years, instruments with a different basic design are very rare indeed, and they seem rather to be custom made models which Boehm built according to the wishes of his customers. The four Boehm standard models are also presented in the 1912 catalogue, but the photos (especially the tuners with a hump in the middle and screws with two rings) actually suggest that the instruments displayed must have been built around 1905/06 (the label also points to this date). After 1912, Boehm developed two more models which he called Nr. 1B and Nr. 1C (so that the old Model Nr. 1 changed its name to Nr. 1A).
While it is possible to recognize a development among the early Boehm instruments that finally led to Model Nr. 2, a similar development leading to Model Nr. 1 can yet not be recognized. But there are at least two Waldzithers from about 1900 and 1904 which could be seen as a precursors.
From 1905 on, the design of Model Nr. 1/Nr. 1A remains mainly constant, although Boehm simplified it with the change from Nr. 1 to Nr. 1A by omitting the twofold outer ring
It is impossible at present to discern a simple transition from the early Model Nr. 1 (with a twofold outer ring) around the sound hole to the later Model Nr. 1A (without this ring), for there are some more design variations between 1914 and 1920 which cannot be out into a clear sequence. There are for example some Waldzithers from after 1918 which have only a
Early in the 1920s, the design seems to have become fixed again, for from now on only instruments with standard tuners, standard tailpiece, herringbone pattern at the edge of the top and without the outer rim around the sound hole can be found.
