alibop
MM Forum Member
Posts: 1
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Post by alibop on Nov 30, 2017 22:32:33 GMT
Hello, I recently acquired a Supro Lap Steel. C5414 with the letters FS impressed into the top of headstock following the SN. From what I can tell it is a 1938-1940 Avalon model. Black satin body, Supro aluminum plates under the volume & tone controls, no Supro badge on the headstock, strings through the pu, hard wired and aluminum fretboard with parallelogram markers. Orig green lining in the chipboard case. Really strong pu. Any insight as the to FS on the headstock? Factory Second? Thanks for any thoughts
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Post by Misterkevster on Nov 30, 2017 22:35:26 GMT
....perhaps obvious....but pictures always help!!!
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Post by Mark Makin on Dec 5, 2017 19:33:25 GMT
Hi Alibop Firstly you're correct about the instrument - an AVALON from around 1938. The Supro headstock badge was often not used on these instruments because of the two branded knobs on the control plate. You got me interested in checking all the serial number lists for instances of "FS" marks. In all we only have 10 instruments known across the entire range of Nationals: These are: 2626FS Sq Nk Style 4 Triplate 3295WFS 12 fret walnut Triolian 1067FS 14 fret Triolian 3787FS 14 fret Triolian C8847FS 14 fret Duolian C9500FS 14 fret Duolian 2058FS Rosita 6586FS Rosita
Your instrument, of course, is listed in the late 30s Chicago A,B and C series. In this series we also have B1979FS Silvo Mandolin C4123FS Aragon.
I'm sure you're right about "FS" meaning Factory second although, after around 80 years, it will be difficult to assess why it would be a second. Certainly, any scratches or flaws in a perfect factory finish will long ago have disappeared under the wear and tear of 8 decades.
There is another interesting addition to this discussion. There is at least one 12 fret Duolian that has its number stamped as C420-2 which may also indicate a "2nd". There is also a run of 14 fret Style 0s listed as S5562 2D S5785 2D S5958 2D S6025 2D I'm also guessing that this also means "2nd" That's about as definitive as I can give you!!
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Post by snakehips on Dec 8, 2017 12:38:06 GMT
Hi there !
I would think the a factory second is the most obvious and likely meaning for FS in a serial number.
However, what would you think of the possibility that -2 after a serial number could mean a 2nd guitar with the same serial number - only noticed just after serial numbers were stamped. Trying to stamp over a number already there would just look a mess. Adding "-2" to the serial number would sort that, then they could miss out the very next number, eg :
C8846 C8847 C8847 - whoops ! C8847-2 C8849 C8850
So this way, C8847-2 could actually be C8848, with no C8848 guitar existing ??
What do you think ?
Are there any instances where you have the very next serial number instrument known, after a -2 or FS ???
Probably a daft idea !
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