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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:31:48 GMT
Here is another interesting instrument variant that adds a bit more knowledge to the world of Nationals. This is probably a 1938 National Aragon with a ring of extra holes on the wooden coverplate and five-bar rather than 3-bar coverplate slots. It also has larger bar markers on the fret board and metal Grovers. Considering the discussion about how easily these plates may have broken and were sometimes replaced, it seems likely that this may have been the first design - i.e. a much more complicated (and consequently disaster prone) coverplate. with its five strip holes in every cluster, it represented much more fine cutting than the three holes that were eventually decided on.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:32:36 GMT
I have no idea what Triplate model this is supposed to be. The coloured sandblasting makes it close in style to the Style 97 or Model 35. It is easy to date - L10020 - end of 1938. The "Lute player" image is similar to one that appears on late 1930s Triolian tenor tortoiseshell scratchplates. The weird thing though is why on earth is the image on the back repeated under the fingerboard on the front? I can only assume that the guy who did it on the body top forgot that a neck had to be fitted after he'd finished!!!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:33:18 GMT
The National EL TROVADOR was made by Kay in 1933. After a dispute with National, Kay ceased production. National decided to continue briefly with the model and commissioned Harmony to take over manufacture. This picture shows a Harmony made, late EL TROVADOR with fingerboard markers that would later appear on the 14 fret replacement guitar - the ESTRALITA (also made by Harmony) The Harmony built instrument has wider f holes with a larger gap between the two sections. They are also located further down the body than the Kay built guitars. Kay instruments have K serial numbers and Harmony instruments have ...... yes, you've guessed it!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:34:01 GMT
Here is a close up photo of the rare, unique, early 1927 TRICONE UKULELE that was owned by US TV personality Andy Griffith.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:34:45 GMT
This is a picture of, perhaps, the earliest recorded CHRYSANTHEMUM Style 4 roundneck. (Number 0406). There are 5 ACANTHUS "De Luxe" pattern roundnecks. that pre-date it and also Number 0189 is possibly a Style 4 but the existence of that one has never been confirmed. It is an earlier, rather disconnected, version of a Style 4. I call it the "7 flower" version. This is the same pattern that was used on Tampa Red's guitar. (See the later post , where we identify the ACTUAL first prototype Style 4)  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:35:38 GMT
Here is a picture of the rare Style 0 12 string from 1934/5 (S4259). Made for Mathew Olivera Jnr. and custom requested by his father. The odd coverplate was made from the new die using the latest National design. It was to be used on all the later National instruments. However after its use here, the die was 'lost in transit' to the new facility in Chicago - so this (with its companion, made for his music teacher) remains the only examples of how the "new" Nationals in Chicago might have looked!  Here is a close-up picture of the rare coverplate  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:37:00 GMT
This item seems to be totally unique - it is an ordinary squareneck Triplate (Number 766 from 1928) yet it has a factory-applied "Style 0" pattern. Maybe a custom request in 1930 for a Triplate with the "new" palm tree pattern only otherwise available on the new Style 0s of the time!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:38:32 GMT
I am going to post a few pictures of Nationals that you don't usuually see - different variants, odd custom things etc. Here is a picture of, what may be, a VERY early prototype wood bodied single cone Triolian/ It is coloured in basic sand wood colour, no colour spray splashes. It features the screen mesh cutouts and the early straight edged hand strap on the coverplate. Of particular interest is the first, black stencilled logo which pre-dates the decals.  While I'm on the subject of wood bodied Triolians - here are the three known wood bodies that SHOULD be metal bodies. Although the polychrome hula girl Triolians were issued through 1928 and 29, these three were kept until early 1931 before they were supplied numbered in the walnut metal Triolian list. Why? Who knows? Perhaps they were short of an instrument to make up the numbers and quickly re-painted one. It's still a Triolian after all!!!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:39:12 GMT
The Supro Folkstar was the red one! The Airline was the Black one and the white one was the National - yeah, almost! By the time the Valco company went out of business in 1968, these instruments were being assembled from parts of all three so you could get any brand logo on any colour with any neck or coverplate. This one is slightly odder than most. It has a red Glenwood neck with a white headplate and an airline coverplate on a Supro body with a National logo. I guess they must have run out of necks of any type!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:40:03 GMT
This is Roundneck Triplate number 0257. It is a plain Style 1 guitar but it has, perhaps, the most accomplished, beautiful piece of personalised name engraving that National ever produced. I don't recall seeing this amount of care and skill used on the engraving of anyone else's name. Also - note the small date on the body edge near the tailpiece - Feb 10th 1928.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:40:55 GMT
Here is a detail of Squareneck triplate Number 106 . THis one has had its 7 extra holes 're-filled' with metal plates from behind. These are then engraved in a diamond pattern. mmm - Interesting!!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:41:32 GMT
This is a picture of the inside well of Squareneck Triplate Number 112. This time, the bottom 7 diamonds were covered with mesh. Also built in 1927, this has the typical STUD tailpiece, grilles made of metal strips, a silver painted blockboard well bottom and the usual paper gaskets around the edge of the coverplate seating.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:42:16 GMT
Here is a photo of the oldest known round neck Triplate (1927) and, so far, the ONLY example with the prototype, extra 7 holes. Interesting that the top grilles are covered with mesh. Nice to see the early attempts to establish the 'look'. This is numbered 0103 and was produced soon after the 'chopped about' squareneck/roundneck 101.  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:43:03 GMT
I thought people might like to see a photo of the FIRST NATIONAL GUITAR made by John Dopyera in 1926. Originally, this was made as a square neck guitar but was soon converted by John to a round neck by simply cutting off the casing. By fitting a standard round neck, it does not really have access much beyond the seventh fret. It is made of german silver but is NOT plated - just polished. It was restored by John Dopyera's apprentice Dave Flood and now resides in the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA. It was numbered 101 (although the original neck serial number would have been cut off when it was converted so it is technically the FIRST ROUNDNECK as well!!!  Shine On Michael |
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 22, 2019 17:43:53 GMT
Another Valco re-branding. This time it's a SUPRO COMET re-branded as a Gretsch. Made in 1955 (Ser. Number around X28000) - this was issued in a tulip yellow that was only used on Supro Supremes at this time. It also features an OAHU fingerboard pattern and some different bakelite knobs  Shine On Michael |
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