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Post by davey on Mar 27, 2020 12:01:07 GMT
I was wondering where exactly my 1934 Dobro Model 37 was made, so I had a look on Google Earth. Here it is in all it's glory, 727 East 62nd St Los Angeles.
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Post by bonzo on Mar 27, 2020 12:50:53 GMT
Looks a nice place to visit once we can travel again!
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 27, 2020 13:43:46 GMT
So that's where my M-32 was born - Wow!
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Post by leeophonic on Mar 28, 2020 8:26:32 GMT
M 32 = Chicago
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 28, 2020 8:33:29 GMT
Aha! I didn't know that Lee, the number has an 'A' prefix (1936?)so I thought it was too early for Chicago - thanks for the info.
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Post by leeophonic on Mar 28, 2020 8:53:00 GMT
Fiddle edge Dobros= post 1935 and on, this is the time when anything and everything was going east, all the factories and plants were now in one town, a bit like the West Midlands in the 70,s for the UK car industry.
Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 28, 2020 8:56:50 GMT
That's the place! I saw this a few years ago when Mark Makin was writing his book. I got a call one day from a very excited Mark saying that he was looking at the Dobro factory on Google Earth.
There is an M32 Academy in Chicago where you can learn to sail M32 yachts. There is also Fox 32 radio. In fact there are quite a few references to that for obvious reasons
Shine On Michael
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 28, 2020 8:58:58 GMT
Thanks again Lee - that certainly makes sense, particularly with all the engineering and metalworking skills available and going on in Chicago but I was under the impression that Dobro didn't move from LA until the end of 1936.
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Post by davey on Mar 28, 2020 9:53:17 GMT
It's quite a big factory when you look from above & it was probably a smart estate when it was built. Some of the neighbouring building still look a bit Art Deco.
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 28, 2020 10:12:17 GMT
Davey, if you zoom in you might see a coverplate or two in the alleyways!
Shine On Michael
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Post by rbe on Mar 28, 2020 19:44:32 GMT
Pretty sure the first year of M32 production with the slotted headstock is LA made. 1935?
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Post by leeophonic on Mar 29, 2020 7:41:36 GMT
Rick you may be onto something as officially National/Dobro corp did not officially move lock stock and barrel until 1936. As you know regal in Chicago were making Dobros under licence and shipping back to LA for assembly from the onset of the wooden Dobro
The Address above is the 2nd Dobro factory, the 1st Shop being on Broadway and 51st streets in LA where National was born and the dissent with Beauchamp caused the walk out in 1928, to a small shop (address???) with the Dobro finished for 1929 then to 727 East 62nd street in 1930 on a five year lease, although in the fall of 1934 following the merger a 13000 sq foot building off Florence and McKinley next to the Goodyear plant, National moved over from the Western avenue plant to the new east side LA factory/plant. By 1936 Ed Dopera opens the Chicago and Branch assembly with the idea of selling out to the big guitar companies. Ed Dopeera left Chicago in 1937 after three winters there( 34,35,36) ruined his enthusiasm for the business, that indicates there was more happening with Dobro pre 1935 in Chicago than is written.
So getting back to the query where was the Dobro made and where was it assembled, well there could be two different answers!!!
Lee
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