The Orpheum Imperator Style C archtop was the top of the line for the brand when introduced by Lange, a prominent instrument builder, in 1933. Featuring a carved, X-braced Adirondack Spruce top, Flame Maple for the sides, back and neck, Brazilian Rosewood for the multi-bound fingerboard and headplate, Ebony for the bridge and Mother of Pearl for the logo, this was an impressive instrument.
Regal
The Dobro Model 27 and 25 were for a time one of Dobro’s most popular models, though it’s hard to tell which model is which – the designation was based on that year’s price!
Here we’re looking at a what’s likely a Dobro Model 27, though possibly a 25, built during 1934 for Dobro by the Regal company of Chicago, Illinois. The body construction is largely of Birch ply, bound top and back,with likely Poplar for the neck and Walnut for the fingerboard.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here’s a lovely piece – from the early 1930’s, an SS Stewart Model 4024 archtop guitar, built by either Regal or Harmony and sold through Buegeleisen and Jacobson, owners of the Stewart brand. The SS Stewart company, named for Samuel Swain Stewart was a major producer of banjos between 1878 and 1904, and was bought by B&J (Buegeleisen and Jacobson) a few years after Stewart’s death. Over the years, B&J shifted to producing mostly guitars with the brand, had many companies build the actual instruments including Chicago Musical Instruments, who also built Harmony, Kay, and Silvertone brands.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Built during the mid 1930s, the Oahu Style 71K Hawaiian square neck guitar expressed the popularity of Hawaiian music and steel guitar. Oahu was perfectly placed as they were also a major music publisher. This Oahu Style 71K Hawaiian square neck was likely built by Kay around 1935, and features a solid Spruce top, X-braced, with laminate Maple for the sides and back. The neck is Mahogany, with Rosewood used for the bridge and the bound fingerboard. The finish is Sunburst, executed in nitrocellulose lacquer, and sports an elaborate gold-coloured, stencil design on the top.
This instrument has sold
MORE →The Regal Dobro Resophonic Guitar Model 37, built in Chicago during 1935 has been functionally restored by Grant MacNeill. This guitar is now both fully playable and an interesting historical example of American musical instrument production. Regal had a long history, beginning in 1896 as a brand of the Emil Wulschner Music Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Emil died in 1900 and the Regal name and manufacturing stock was sold to Lyon and Healy in 1904. By 1908, production was moved to Chicago, Illinois under the name of the Regal Musical Instrument Company.
This instrument has sold
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