Authentic Schwarzer Concert Zither

Description

A genuine Schwarzer concert zither with case.
This zither was made by Franz  Schwarzer, an Austrian immigrant who settled in the town of Washington,
Missouri.
Schwarzer entered 3 of his zithers in the Vienna Exposition of 1873, and was awarded the "Gold Medal of Progress", the highest award of the fair.
One of his zithers currently resides in the Smithsonian Museum.
The zither itself is in good condition, with some minor issues with the finish.
The case is another story.
Suffering from moderate water damage, the case top is split, the case has had some repairs,
the interior is in rough shape, and the leather handle is missing.
It still opens and closes and fulfills the role of a case, but it is not good looking.
Comes with 3 tuning keys, none of which fit the tuners.
I cannot find a serial number anywhere on this instrument, but this belonged to my grandmother who was playing this zither in 1896 so its date of manufacture would necessarily be prior to this.