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Author
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Topic: *Very* Strange 1936 Harmony Steel
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Jeff Lucas
Member From: San Francisco, California, USA
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posted 10 May 2004 03:48 PM
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Just wondering if any of you have any knowledge of this strange beast. Click here and scratch your head! |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 10 May 2004 04:40 PM
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No idea but what cool, original industrial design! |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 10 May 2004 06:29 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? |
Ron Bednar
Member From: Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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posted 10 May 2004 06:35 PM
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Russ - These guitars are aluminum:
http://www.industrialguitar.com/guitars.html [This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 10 May 2004 at 06:36 PM.] |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 10 May 2004 07:05 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.] |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 10 May 2004 07:08 PM
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 |
Chuck Fisher
Member From: Santa Cruz, California, USA
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posted 10 May 2004 11:18 PM
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neat. A graceful design. I wonder kow much its going for? |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 11 May 2004 03:12 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. |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 11 May 2004 08:22 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 |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 11 May 2004 08:47 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. |
Bill Creller
Member From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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posted 11 May 2004 03:31 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 |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 11 May 2004 03:52 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.. |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 26 May 2004 12:04 PM
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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. |
Alvin Sydnor
Member From: Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 26 May 2004 06:31 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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