Stössel Laute.wpntr2018-12-19T18:37:23+00:00Georg Stössel (1867-1943) from Cologne, a zither virtuoso, produced in 1914 patented instruments which could be played by starting from the top of the instruments with a special holding technique. ‘Stössel instrument production company’ continued to produce instruments in Stuttgart from 1923 until when it went bankrupt in 1925. Stössel calls the instrument on the left “bass lute” and the right one “contrabass lute”. Both instruments were produced before 1925. They have an original Stössel signature. Stössel described the instruments as lutes, but they are more likely zithers. The fingerboard is placed on the body on the the left instrument; a small neck is added to the left one. The pegs for tuning the strings are placed at the lower part of the top. 