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Post by Mark Makin on Sept 17, 2009 7:28:16 GMT
I agree with Pascal. Oak does not have a very long figured grain so this is unlikely. Regal headstock slots have routed round ends and California made Dobros have saw cut square slots.
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Post by Mark Makin on Sept 8, 2009 14:54:02 GMT
Very useful thing - an old school ruler!!
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Post by Mark Makin on Sept 8, 2009 10:38:34 GMT
Hello Josh Yes, your guitar is definitely a TROJAN. I think the 'long f hole' version like yours was made by Kay. They have either Z or (very rare) D serial prefixes.The lowest so far recorded is Z069 and the highest is Z2287. Harmony made the more usual Trojans in the T number series.These are known from T167 to as high as T4762 so far. Quite a lot also occur in the Chicago A series around 1938. It seems National would sub contract a 'type' of guitar to a number of different constructors. The request might be for a:- "14fret instrument, made of birch, mahogany laminate, f holes, 9" cone resonator with tailpiece to be called a TROJAN" Each of the manufacturers would then have their own take on it - so that accounts for two or three 'same but different' instruments. National did the same thing with "Havanas" - made by both Kay and Harmony. Also 'El Trovadors' - originally Kay, the last years production were made by Harmony. Any help?
Incidentally (useless piece of information No 1!!) the TROJAN was originally discussed by the National board as early as 1932 and was originally going to be called the VIOLIAN.
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 23, 2009 15:00:51 GMT
It DOES cover a round hole
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 23, 2009 14:49:36 GMT
To be honest Johan, I'm always interested when these things appear from under the bed. There have been some strange things like the 'french' tricones from the 30s and the Brasher guitars that Colin McC has a lot of info about.
I wouldn't be 'surprised', if I were you, about how skilled 'homemade' things can be - If I'm not mistaken, I seem to recall you doing a very nice job with the slot head modification you did to that Duolian. Should I assume you're a 'professional' or John Dopyeras nephew!!!! Best Mark
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 22, 2009 18:37:36 GMT
As this is certainly the ONLY time in 40 years I've ever seen diamonds consisting of 27 holes, perhaps we can assume this is probably unique. Why then would the Dopyeras go to the trouble to produce a special coverplate when they already have the dies for a 41 hole coverplate?? It also fixes to the body with 8 screws? Doesn't it make more sense to you that someone else liked what they'd done but didn't see a reason to be that accurate in their counting?
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 22, 2009 14:55:28 GMT
Hi Johan I suspect this is like quite a few instruments that turn up from time to time. Made by someone who was impressed by the 'New' Nationals in the late 20s and 30s. Firstly - the headstock is a unique shape - no connection to early Dopera banjos or 'Bantars' of the time. Second, the cone is a handmade attempt at a National cone. Thirdly, the coverplate holes are similar but not well observed or accurate enough to be mistaken as an 'original' coverplate. Remember that early openings made on Dopera prototype guitars were mesh covered - not drill holes - they didn't appear until at least 3 years into production. On a positive note, I bet it worked well enough though!
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 20, 2009 9:47:55 GMT
There's always something lurking round that next corner!
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 20, 2009 8:40:41 GMT
Hello Stuart It's a Fake resonator made by Kay in 1935. Next please! Mark
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 18, 2009 9:15:14 GMT
Here is a 1937 MODEL B AMPLIFIER. The coverplate is a fretted plywood 'National shield' with two colour cloth. Any help?
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 17, 2009 9:51:46 GMT
Hello Bill In 40 years, I have never seen a factory built square neck 12 fret Triolian - 14 fret yes - 12 fret no. I have many original trade house catalogues from 1929,30,31 and ALL of them say that the hawaiian version is supplied with a nut extender - i.e round neck and high nut. By the end of 1931,early 32, the catalogues start to mention that hawaiian guitars can be had by "special order". Does this also mean a nut extender or "can be fitted with a square neck". I don't know for sure. Either way it means that if a SQUARE NECK TRIOLIAN does exist it is only a rare custom instrument made in less than a 12 month period before the 14s arrived. So - in effect - I agree with your results! Thats the best detective work I can do Bill!
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 16, 2009 13:40:18 GMT
Hello Kandobro This is the best I can do - it is a Harmony built SUPRO ARCADIA from 1941 number G3536. The f holes are slightly different to those featured on pre-war Arcadia adverts. They are similar to those used on later Harmony built National Havanas. Any use? Mark
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 3, 2009 9:01:30 GMT
Hello Rick I'm afraid I don't know when Hessys took on the import dealership of Dobros. I would imagine it was already in place by 1933/4. However, there are some specific adverts in newspapers around the 1936/7/8 period. I did try to talk to both Hessys and Boosey and Hawkes to get detailed information about their part in the National Dobro story........THIS WAS IN 1966 and even then I was told to go away because it was so long ago nobody remembered!!!!!
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Post by Mark Makin on Aug 2, 2009 20:00:43 GMT
Hello Al and Perce Boosey and Hawkes on Regent Street, were dealers in National Duolians, Triolians, El Trovadors and Style 1 and 2 Tricones (round and square) from 1934ish. Also, I believe, cast National lap steels. The Duolian was £7.17.6d and the Tricone £26.5.0d. You could buy a Duolian on the 'drip' for ONLY 3/9d A WEEK! Many BBC performers (now totally unknown) - Harry Collins, Harry Sherman, Jack Hill, Bill Tringham etc etc..used them around this time in orchestras and bands (particularly Hawaiian). By 1936, Boosey and Hawkes had added early National archtop electrics. So you see, they were almost as prevalent and desirable in the UK as the US. Hessy's music in Liverpool (where the Beatles bought guitars!) were the main importers of the Fiddle edge metal Dobros (14gns) during 1937/38. Exports of Nationals and Dobros during the 30s were usually done in larger numbers through trade houses like Montgomery Wards and Sears. It seems that, outside the US, most Nationals appear in either the UK or West Africa. Most Dobros, outside the US, turn up in Australia!
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Post by Mark Makin on Jul 28, 2009 15:06:36 GMT
There are 16 of his chronological output, the other four are compilation CDs etc. There are ACTUALLY 20 CDs of Leadbelly too!
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