Long body Triolian uke with screen cover plate

[mendax]

So I just got this today and wondered if anyone knows when the switch was made to the sieve cover plate from the screened version on Triolian ukuleles.
Unfortunately for Mark's records the serial number seems to be virtually non-existent. Under bright light under the "P" in "APLD" there seems to be a faint "8".
In a search on the internet I could only find one other polychrome one with a ("landlord green"!) screen cover plate that sold at an auction 10 years ago.
If I can't find a vintage hand rest David Flood thinks he can hand make one for me.
Aside from the usual chips and flaking the body appears to be in quite good shape.

[Mark Makin]

Hi Mendax.
This is quite interesting. The screen hole coverplates on ukes were first used on the earlier silver style 1 ukes. These were in production in early 1928. There are quite a number of long body ukes in this series with screens. In fact, starting at 100, I can account for 30 of them up to around number 286. This last one, would have been made in the early part of 1930, maybe around March.
Now then, the Triolians do not start uke production for a year and a half or so after the silver ukes (maybe around late 1929). Apart from the one you picture here, I can only find photographic reference for one other (number 262). This would also date to around early 1930. So, I am guessing that silver screen mesh ukes were finishing about the time that Triolian ukes were starting. Because they are almost non-existant in the Triolian range, it might be a case of using screen mesh plates remaining in the silver line, when a drilled plate was not available in the Triolian line.
It's almost impossible to put any better dates on it than that. Considering that the 'newer' drilled coverplates were more cost effective (one process stamping) and the earlier screen mesh plates required much soldering, I don't think they had any intention of using the earlier plates on the cheaper Triolian line, except by accident or to use up stock.

[mendax]

Thank you, Mark. So then I am assuming that none of the ones you have listed in your book have the screened cover plate? Mine appears to be steel, I wonder what's under the green paint on this one:



My Silver Style One #182 is my favorite resonator uke--I really like the larger body. I was rather surprised no one else bid on this one, but I suppose with the holiday season and the economy in it's current state
people have other priorities...

[Mark Makin]

Hi Mendax
Correct. As far as I know, they are all drilled but I am missing a lot of confirmations on many of them. Number 262 DOES have a screen cover but that appeared only in the last year.

[ukulelezaza]

Cool find!!
Besides 262 and the one with green coverplate I know of one other Triolian uke with screen coverplate (also large body), but they all have the "silver style" peghead, not the typical square Triolian peghead that yours has. That makes your uke unique (until another pops up).

Did you check the top end of the peghead? That's where the serial number usually is on Triolian ukes. I'd love to know the number if there is one.

[mendax]

Yes! That was the first place I looked, but there is nothing. NRP is sending me an undrilled, unpainted hand rest. Meanwhile, I have been driving my Manx cats crazy playing it nonstop.