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Topic: *Very* Strange 1936 Harmony Steel |
Jeff Lucas
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 10 May 2004 2:48 pm |
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| Just wondering if any of you have any knowledge of this strange beast. Click here and scratch your head! |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 May 2004 3:40 pm
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| No idea but what cool, original industrial design! |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 10 May 2004 5:29 pm
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Funny that you should respond, Andy -- I've been curious if that's the guitar being played by the Cajun steeler on page 173 of your book! (The guitar is a lot easier to see in this version of the photo.)
Cast aluminum certainly was a popular material for lap steel bodies in the 1930s -- in addition to the Rickenbacher "Frying Pans," Dobro, Gibson, National, Supro and Harmony all used aluminum. I recently saw a cast-aluminum "Aloha." Other than the Frying Pan "reissues," have any manufacturers used aluminum more recently? |
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Ron Bednar
From:
Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 10 May 2004 6:05 pm
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Russ, you forgot Vega. Back to Lap Steels 101.
And no rimshot for you!  [This message was edited by HowardR on 10 May 2004 at 07:06 PM.] |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 10 May 2004 6:08 pm
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Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 10 May 2004 10:18 pm
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neat. A graceful design. I wonder kow much its going for?
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 11 May 2004 2:12 am
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| Very possible, Russ. Frankly, I'd been looking at the obscured verion for so long I'd forgotten about the original photo! Good reearch. The photo is available online as a hi-res tiff from the library of congress website for anyone who cares to add it to their collection. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 11 May 2004 7:22 am
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This particular guitar is the best preserved model I've ever seen. I never knew who made them or when, but based on the seller's information, Harmony made this model for Sears Roebuck in 1936.
I've played on a beat up version of this guitar, but was unimpressed. Whether that was due to construction or maintenance (or my playing) I couldn't say.
------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 11 May 2004 7:47 am
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I met an elderly gentleman in South Florida who had one of these, but since the dealer is in Fort Lauderdale I suspect it's the same guitar. According to the dealer's web site, the price is $1495. (Ouch!)
And speaking of aluminum lap steels, they also have a Gibson E150 ... on a "call for price" basis. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 11 May 2004 2:31 pm
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Howard, I thought the Vega was a cast zinc guitar(??) I could be wrong though, 'cause I was wrong once in 1947.
Bill |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 11 May 2004 2:52 pm
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I believe that you're right Bill. I was also told by the seller that the Vega was cast zinc.
I just had to catch Russ on something.. |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 26 May 2004 11:04 am
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| I haven't been able to find out anything more about this particular Harmony, but I did stumble across this website for future reference. |
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Alvin Sydnor
From:
Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 26 May 2004 5:31 pm
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I sold my Harmony just like this one for $150.00 in 1997. I have a copy of the Sears catalog page which advertised it as a "Hawaiian Metal Guitar".In 1936 Sears sold the guitar for $28,25, the case cost $8.15 and companion 3 stage amplifier went for$36.75. The amplifier was called a "Supertone" made by Lyon & Healy for Harmony. The pickup was made by Rickenbaker for Harmony. The pickup on this guitar is most interesting in that it has 3 small coils connected in series fit into a wood block with a small horse-shoe magnet. I sold it because I didn't care for it's sound. The case for this guitar is worth a lot since most cases are gone.
Alvin |
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