Tuning your harpsichord, the dutch way (Clae Douwed, 1698)

Is there such a thing as a "Frisian Hommel?"

Allthough I make "Friesian Hommels" since the seventies, there is in my opinion not such a thing as a typical Friesian hommel, but of course there can be hommels made in Friesland.
According to Kohl, a German musicologist in the first half of the 19th century, there were only a very few "Hammels" in East-Friesland, and they were all of Dutch make. According to Winkler (same century) the "hommels" in Friesland were of more southern origin.
Claes Douwes, a Frisian, describes at the end of the 17th century (in his book:"Grondig ondersoek van de toonen der musijk") an instrument which he calls "noordse balk" and which is clearly a kind of hommel. Noords however, can be "Norwegian" as well as "From the North". Taken into consideration that in that time there was an intense contact between Friesland and the south of Norway, this instrument, in my opinion, must have been the Norwegian "langeleik"
My opinion is that the present hommel/vlier/epinette des vosges etcetera, originates in the low countries and Northern France. There is no proof that the "langeleik" has spread more to the south (and east).
Why I use the term "Friesian Hommel"?
Since I started making hommels I made lots of types, often without drawings, just for fun, some with only 3 strings, some with as many as 40. Just for fun and for making music, and without being hindered by any historical facts.
That is the way it used to go with folk intruments. Anyway, one of them had the shape of a friesian clock cut in 2 pieces over the length. One of my fellow musicians started calling it the "friesian hommel" not knowing that 30 years later there would be a discussion about that name.....

(written for the forum "everyting dulcimer"}