Early pedal steel

Rusty Rogers · Post by **Rusty Rogers** » 3 Jan 2008 5:34 pm

This is Glenn Derry,he built this guitar
in the mid 40's and played around the
San Diego area in those years.Maybe some
of you knew him.Anyhow I've never seen
a pedal steel like this.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 3 Jan 2008 5:45 pm

gadzooks,, are those DOG chains I see on the side of that thing??? yikes.. Its a kinda butt ugly monstrosity, looks like a torture device, but I bet it sounded good... cool pic... bob

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 3 Jan 2008 7:01 pm

that is way freaking cool.

Marty Muse · Post by **Marty Muse** » 3 Jan 2008 8:51 pm

Rusty-

What a great photo. Where did you find it? Do you have the original?

MM

Rusty Rogers · Post by **Rusty Rogers** » 4 Jan 2008 8:35 am

Marty--I got the pic from my brother,
He had the band that this guy played in.
My bro has the original. Here's Joaquin
in a newer pic. Wish I could read the emblem on his guitar

Marty Muse · Post by **Marty Muse** » 4 Jan 2008 8:42 am

I am working on a film dealing with the history of the steel guitar. I am looking for photographs of early examples of pedal guitars, from the crude to the sublime. Anyone else have any hidden gems out there? How could I go about getting a good scan from your brother? Where is he located?

I believe the guitar Joaquin is playing is the Bigsby prototype that was recently found and sold at auction. There was a thread on the Forum last year, I think, about this. Once again, great photo!

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 4 Jan 2008 8:44 am

yes I heard of him when I was subbing in Spades bands and any other that I could in order to stay alive. He was the talk of most of the LA players and a couple said they heard him in La Jolla. The talk was that he was doing "something wild".I never got to hear him however. cc

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 4 Jan 2008 10:24 am

I think you can tune the pedals on that steel by adding or removing links in the chain.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 4 Jan 2008 11:01 am

I've got an old homemade pedal steel. Door hinges, pipe flanges for leg sockets. Neat wooden pedal rack wtih wooden pedals. All reasonably well banged together. Big black wooden case with a vintage Lone Star Beer sticker on it. I believe the makers name is on a little metal plaque under the guitar.
It reads:

W.E. Wilson 212 Spruce B-Haven Miss.
Model No.7196 I Serial No. 21667

It's disassembled right now. The pickup covers are all busted up and the keyheads (wooden) are not currently super functional. I'd love to pass it off to someone who might have some personal connection to it. It's just taking up space here and I don't feel right tossing it out.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 4 Jan 2008 11:21 am

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 4 Jan 2008 2:21 pm

Pulls and lowers at the keyhead? Kinda like a prehistoric Jackson?

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 4 Jan 2008 3:30 pm

delete

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 6 Jan 2008 2:24 pm

there's a fellow on myspace who built his own steel and started an online group: DIY Pedal Steel

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 6 Jan 2008 2:46 pm

That steel almost looks like an old fireplace screen, the kind where you draw the chain 'curtain' across the front to block the hot embers. In this case, only part of the chain remains at one end.

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 14 Feb 2023 7:13 pm

It looks like they used what is called, Sash Chain by old carpenters I worked with. The chain was flat with interlocking links, Made to roll over pulleys.
The chain was hooked on both sides of the bottom sash, Go up and over a pulley with weights inside the wall, So the window raised easy and would set where ever raised to.

The chain and pulleys did not have to be reinvented, Just use them.

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Early pedal steel

Early pedal steel

early pedal steel