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Post new topic Old National - need info
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Author Topic:  Old National - need info
Skip Ellis


From:
Bradenton, Fl USA
Post  Posted 30 Jun 2009 7:55 am    
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Was contacted by a friend of friend who wanted to know what this is and what it's worth. I think it's from around 1929 or 1930 but not sure. Unfortunately, these pics were taken 'prior to restoration' and I don't know what sort of 'restoration' was done - I'm trying to find out and will add to the post when I get further info. I did e-mail him that any restoration was probably going to lessen the value dramatically. I wish these people would ask before they go messing with stuff!




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Bill Creller

 

From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 30 Jun 2009 10:12 am    
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I would say late 30s. From what I've heard in recent years, it's made of cast zinc. There have been a few of those on Ebay, and they didn't seem to bring a very high price for being an antique. Also, folks here say they are temp sensitive,in keeping them tuned.
Not likely late 20s, since Rickenbacher was probably the first production electric in '31 or '32. It seems the other companies got into electrics around 1935.
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Richard Shatz


From:
St. Louis
Post  Posted 30 Jun 2009 3:26 pm    
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I really love these things.
I think it's probably the second version of the Electric Hawaiian that National made (1935-36).
The serial number will likely give us a year of production. National was always good at numbering their steels. I think there is either a N or A prefix before a number.
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 30 Jun 2009 3:50 pm    
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It's a National Electric Hawaiian guitar from late 1935-early 1936, according to Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars. I played a later model of these for a while, but sold it because I couldn't keep it in tune. Nice sound, though.
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Scott Thomas

 

Post  Posted 30 Jun 2009 5:22 pm    
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Here's some footage from 1936 of a brand new National electric in action...
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=10667
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 30 Jun 2009 5:31 pm    
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And check out Rudy playing his new Octarimba, with accompaniment by an accoustic steeler! Maybe the first time this particular combo of steel and vibes had ever been recorded. www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=28712 Do a Pathe search for Felix Mendelssohn, Hawaiian Serenaders, or steel guitar and you'll get some great playing by the likes of Roland Peachey, Pulu Moe, and Harry Brooker.
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Joseph Rush Wills

 

From:
New Jersey, USA
Post  Posted 1 Jul 2009 12:28 pm    
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That looks like the original version of the National Electric Hawaiian.
Mine is a 1935-36, came out of a landfill. You should have seen it prior to restoration. All those years it lay out in the weather, paint gone, fretboard bleached white, one string on, and a tuner missing.
Electronics worked, thought.
Instument now restored, nice sound; wouldn't part with it!

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