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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 11:24:30 GMT
This not a particularly important find but it is another little brick in the wall! This is a variant of the Supro COLT, Model S607. Usually only found in red and white as a student guitar, this version is brown sunburst with a different pickup, bridge and wiring. The black scratchplate and missing logo would seem to indicate that it is another 'short run' or 'Trade House' brand from the 1966/68 period.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 11:25:11 GMT
Here is a newly spotted Silver Uke from around 1932 with a personalised "custom" engraved pattern. I'm sure "Marjorie" was delighted!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 11:25:49 GMT
This Dopera Original Bantar from 1968 is now the 9th one that I know about - everyone is different, engraving, colours, 4 string, 5 string, 6 string. I wonder just how many of these there were? I have heard unverified figures of around 80.. who knows?  Shine On Michael |
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Post by creolian on Mar 22, 2019 11:26:14 GMT
Question! -- Does anybody know what the story is behind this amplifier? As far as I was aware, Selmer/Truvoice amps were made in Britain by Selmer/RSA at Theobalds House, Holborn, London during the 50s and 60s. This particular amp is definitely Valco made in Chicago during 1954. It has an "X" plate serial number for that date. and has "Selmer, Elkhart, Indiana" printed on the back plate. Would love to know why??  Shine On Michael The "Selmer" brand here is synonymous with institutional music. Given the variety of inputs, I guess that this was marketed to schools and biz here for educational type use. Nice bit of reading this morning... thanks. J |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:23:57 GMT
Here is an example of one of the last of the early silver short-body Style 2 ukuleles that has just appeared. Made close to the end of 1933 or early 1934 and numbered 391, this version of the Style 2 "Wild Rose" engraving is more lavish than usual. The tailpiece is the typical ebony bar but is very square and unfinished with three pearl dots filling the screw heads. All these last Style 2 instruments featured maple necks with cream pearl headplates just covered with a decal.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:24:43 GMT
Most people seem to know that during the craze for resonators in the 1930s, many manufacturers made "fake" Dobros to avoid copyright confrontations. Most of these instruments have obvious design differences from the "real thing" and are easily recognisable for what they are. Some, however, like this mandolin are doubly confusing. This is a "fake" Dobro mandolin but made by Regal, who manufactured "real" Dobros. It also uses the coverplate and headstock shape used on "real" Dobros. Buyers beware!!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:25:35 GMT
Last year on July 21, I posted a drawing of a newly found variant of a New Yorker lap steel. Similar in shape and hardware to a 1941 period instrument. However it had no logo. Everything I described seems to be correct regarding its date of manufacture, however we now know it to be a Valco issued version to be sold through the Montgomery Ward catalogues. It was sold as a RECORDING KING DE LUXE HAWAIIAN. Here is the catalogue reference. Every little bit of information helps I suppose  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:26:14 GMT
A discussion going on at the moment on the steel guitar forum is talking about the rareity of custom ordered long scale (25") National New Yorker lap steels that were offered in the late 1930s catalogues. Nobody seems to have seen one. However a picture of one was recently posted that proves at least somebody ordered one!! This is what it looks like. (The standard scale (23") is, of course, on the left)  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:26:52 GMT
Just found another variation of the Supro AVALON from 1939. This one has a volume control up on the top left bout, a standard Nat Dobro tailpiece and a headstock shape more usually found on the National Chicago archtops. It also uses the SUPRO decal that appears on the wooden slab shaped lap steels.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:27:27 GMT
This Dopera Tenor banjo from 1968 has just surfaced. This is the 8th one that I've discovered. In this particular case, it was custom made for Curly Seckler. He played banjo, firstly with Bill Monroe's band and later with Flatt and Scruggs. He still lives, in retirement, at the age of 95! This one is probably the most ornate yet. It is also gold plated  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:28:18 GMT
Here is a vintage guitar poster that was done some years back when Johnny Winter lent the guitar for pictures. It contains all the relevant details about provenance.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:29:09 GMT
I don't know how many people are aware of this but......3 days ago, this round neck Style 4 Chrysanthemum (number S5057) was sold anonymously on ebay and went for $9500 (£5500 UK). It just happens to be the guitar owned by Johnny Winter and used on the "Nothing But The Blues" album cover.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:29:46 GMT
Here is a recently discovered twin neck lap steel, made by Valco in 1956 for the Gretsch company. Some of these Gretsches are unusual in that they do NOT use the typical Valco lap steel electrics.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:30:25 GMT
The guitar on the right is basically a SUPRO LEXINGTON like the instrument on the left EXCEPT that all of its hardware is sourced in Japan (probably the Matsuoku factory). This guitar was made in the last weeks of Valco's existence in 1968 and provides an interesting set of ideas... was Valco sourcing and buying cheap Japanese electrics as a cost cutting exercise before their final collapse.....or were these wood solid bodied instruments like the Normandy, Lexington etc that followed the resoglas range actually COMPLETELY made in Japan and supplied to Valco??  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:31:08 GMT
Here is yet another "trade house" version of the ubiquitous National Chicagoan/Supro Supreme lap steel. It seems to have been pushed out in almost every possible variation of colour, fretboard design and pearl finish imaginable. This one is a McKinney brand numbered V26470. It dates to 1950  Shine On Michael |
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