National Triolian No:2485W

[Pickers Ditch]

Hi, just joined the forum (great site BTW) having bought the Triolian (No:2485W) from Gruhns back in 2007.
I've had a lot of fun learning to play and every time I pick her up I can't help but wonder about her history and "originality".
The number is listed in Bob Brozmans book and is dated 1931.
Are there any quick checks I can do to determine the originality of the parts on her?
Obviously the neck, body and coverplate are but any ideas how to speedy check the rest of the bits or do I leave that to an expert?
Anybody know her history?
I would not want to dismantle anything for fear of damaging her.
Many thanks in anticipation, PD.

[Michael Messer]

Hi PD,

Welcome to our forum and thank you for your kind words.

I used to deal with Gruhn's a lot, they are great people.

The only way to be certain about original components in your Triolian is to show it to an expert. Whatever you do, don't open it!!! It is better not to know, because opening old Nationals (unless you really have to) can disturb things and cause all kinds of problems.

You are welcome to post some closeups on here, hopefully we should be able to see something from those.

Shine On
Michael.

[Pickers Ditch]

Here she is and, as you can see, sometime or the other there was perhaps a pick-up attached with glue between the fingerboard and the coverplate.
Little bits of paint missing and some evidence of a cured resin around the rectangular area at the end of the fingerboard?

(I won't open her up, I promise)

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[Pickers Ditch]

Here's another - can't work out how to get multi pics on one post, anyone help?

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[Michael Messer]

Hi PD,

So far so good - all looks original to me. Can you post a closeup of the biscuit & bridge, if that is original, then the cone probably is too.

It is a lovely looking guitar!

Shine On
Michael.

[Pickers Ditch]

Thanks Michael - the wind is sure howlin' in the Pickers Ditch Delta this morning!
Here are two more pictures (if my system works).
I have not attempted to remove the coverplate as on close inspection the screws are old, there are no signs of them being attacked by a screwdriver in the past, unless someone has been very careful a long, long time ago.
The photo of the biscuit is obviously with the coverplate in postion but it does show that it is a bit skew whiff if the "pat number" stamping is suppossed to be lined up properly.
Can't get a decent pic of the bridge (cheap camera, y'know) but it is the same shade black as the biscuit and shows bare wood patches, dead central on both faces approx. 2mm. dia.
this any help?
Kind regards, PD.

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[Michael Messer]

Hi PD,

Yes, thank you, very helpful.

Everything in those photos is what I would expect to see on an all-original 1931 Triolian.

You are right that the screws look like they have not be touched.

I know you don't intend to open it, only ever do so if you really have to. Also, never remove more than one string at a time, and when you change a whole set, still do it one at a time and tune each one to pitch as you change them. That way nothing inside can move and there is no change of tension on the neck. The cone is not fragile while it is in the guitar with the strings tuned up to pitch, but taking the tension of the cone and lifting it out of the guitar, in a worst case scenario could cause it to collapse when re-strung, or as in most cases.......the guitar will just not sound quite the same because everything has been disturbed and unsettled.

I hope that helps...

Shine On
Michael.

[Pickers Ditch]

Thanks again Michael for the opinions.
I will take your advice continue to play and enjoy her, new strings once in a while will be the only disturbance she gets.
PD