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Topic: A Wright Time Capsule Found in Ca!!!!!! |
David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 2:35 am |
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I received this email Sat morning...
Did your father ever live and make guitars in Fremont , ca. My father thinks he rented his shop from my grandfather Burton McIvor in the late 50's. we are doing renovations on the building and recently found a guitar under the floor. It has the name Chuck Wright on it. He had two men working for him one who I believe had a wife named Ruby. We also found letters written to her under the floor. I believe she may have been from Omaha Nebraska. The guitar is made of steel. My dad also said he invented a foot pedal, and would paint the guitars then bake them to get a crinkle effect. We would be curious to see if this was indeed your father. My dad will be 83 this month but his memory is pretty good when it comes to the history of mission San Jose, back then I don,t think Fremont was a city yet so it would have been Mission San Jose. my family owns McIvor,s hardware in Fremont your father would have rented our first store, our new one was built in the 50's next door to that location they were both located on Washington blvd.
Well , it's al true and she sent me pictures of the guitar they found, and to my surprise it was NOT a Steel guitar!!!!... I have asked her if it was made of metal, one might think all these years on the ground would have not made it....We left that shop in 1959 to move to Red Bluff, Ca...Dad built many guitars in that shop...
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 3:08 am
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Since "relic'd" guitars are worth more than new ones, and "heavy relic'd" ones are worth more than basic relic'd, you may be into the high cotton now!  I'd bet either Vintage Guitar or Premier Guitar magazines would love to do a write-up on that. |
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Bill Ladd
From:
Wilmington, NC, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 3:29 am
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| I reckon that's as rare as they come - astonishing story to boot!! Awesome!!! |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 4:11 am
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| Sure wish dad was still around to explain this.. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 4:19 am
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I'd say an extended chat with the old man would be fascinatin'.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jerry Jones
From:
Franklin, Tenn.
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 5:21 am
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I would think one of the vintage guitar mags would love to have this story. 
Looks like Paycheck had one of these too. Note the "Shove it" fingerboard inlay.
_________________
Jerry Jones |
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Jay Fagerlie
From:
Lotus, California, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 9:08 am
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Daniel McKee
From:
Corinth Mississippi
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 10:12 am
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| Very interesting. I always like an instrument with a good story like this to go along with it. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 10:36 am
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I think it deserves to be restored and hung on the wall next to a photo of him.  |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 11:35 am
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String it up! See what kind of noise it makes !
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 3:43 pm
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The Paycheck guitar has a shape like the one found, I wonder when he got it??? we know the guitar found was left behind in 59, and build maybe earlier...
Now, let me get to you Jim, 
Now sure what it will sound like, but do know it will sound a lot like Bb!!!!!!  |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 11 Aug 2013 6:14 pm
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| It must be a thrill seeing something your father made that long ago, and that you never even knew it existed. |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 2:10 am
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Jim, Everything starts at Bb in my world...
I did find out it has a wooden body and aluminum neck. |
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Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 3:58 am
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My goodness. This is an incredible and interesting story David! Will you try to acquire the guitar?
Thanks for sharing the story! |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 4:11 am
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Tommy,
I am trying, they don't sound like they will part with it at this time, al I can do is hope..))) |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 8:15 am
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Quote
“He had two men working for him one who I believe had a wife named Ruby. We also found letters written to her under the floor.â€
DW
Maybe it was the guy working for your Dad that put the guitar under the flooring -- Who’s Ruby ??? maybe their still around to tell the story . |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 8:20 am
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| Quote: |
| We also found letters written to her under the floor. |
That must have been very uncomfortable. Why would anyone squeeze under a floor to write letters? |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 9:02 am
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Bob,
I knew Rudy, he is gone, but do know his Granddaughter... will be sending letters to her |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 9:06 am
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| Lee Baucum wrote: |
| Quote: |
| We also found letters written to her under the floor. |
That must have been very uncomfortable. Why would anyone squeeze under a floor to write letters? |
You know, Lee, that's a really good question. Similarly, I have often wondered how someone squeezed themself under those little ashtray tuning pans on Stringmasters to scribble the date in there... Oh well; where's there's a will there's a way, I guess, huh?
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 9:14 am
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| Alan Brookes wrote: |
| I think it deserves to be restored and hung on the wall next to a photo of him. |
I disagree about restoring it.
It's got a great story attached to it, just the way it is.
David - I do hope you can take possession of the guitar. |
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Jay Fagerlie
From:
Lotus, California, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 9:50 am
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I second with Lee- no restoration, just a good cleaning and maybe a solder job or two...and of course new strings!
IMHO |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 10:13 am
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I might send the pickups for rewinding. But that's just me...
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Aug 2013 1:07 pm
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Dave , you lost me !! the note you received said ( a wife named Ruby ) you mention Rudy - who is no longer with us -- did Rudy have a wife named Ruby ?
Maybe it's just a typo on the note |
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