The tuners arrived! Hooray!
But it meant more sanding. 
The headstock was way too thick, so it took another round of vigorous sanding. The good news is, the tuners work now! Plus, there was enough room for all eight of them, which means I have more options for tuning it.
At this time I’m considering tuning it in a standard octave, for ease of playing notated medieval music, instead of the older, pentatonic scale. Because there are simply NO resources for Anglo Saxon music. There are plenty of resources for later (10th century on) medieval music, mostly because that’s when the notation system developed. Before that? Nada.
Unfortunately, it appears my strings are back ordered. I strung it up last night with some old strings I had laying around (when I change out strings, I like to keep the old set around for emergency spares), and… So far, so good! 
Four strings doesn’t help me learn to play anything, but I am pleased with the tone of the instrument (and satisfied that it will actually work!).
It also enabled me to see that I need to reevaluate the tailpiece design. It’s very hard to knot the strings so they stay put around the rope. As soon as they get under tension, they start pulling loose, a little at a time. I’m currently looking at a method using a fat section of copper wire attached to the brass plate, which should give me enough width to do a traditional “classical” nylon string knot….
Back to the drawing board…
Catch up from the beginning or onto part VII?
Before you give up entirely on finding period music, I believe you should talk to Dr. Mary Dupree at the UofI. She’s The period music guru. I believe she teaches music history classes, but she has a collection of period instruments and she is absolutely fabulous and this woman Knows her Stuff. In the event that it might be possible that there Is music out there and you just haven’t found it yet .. this woman is a priceless resource and she’s Smart And Savvy, and she may know places that we don’t. Definitely worth a phone call. She was teaching there still last time I checked but may have retired since then. They’ll know how to find her I’m sure. Her office was on the main floor of the music building .. if you go in the main doors where the office is, you turn right, and I believe she is the first office on your right. I’m sure she would love to hear what you’ve made and I think you two would have lots to talk about.
Congratulations on your new baby. I can’t wait to hear her sing. ANd I might miss you a little, too <3 Peace!
Thanks for the info, Maria! I will definitely look into contacting her.
I’m looking forward to getting STRINGS!
And learning how to play. 
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