More vintage steel pics

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 28 Mar 2021 9:55 pm

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 29 Mar 2021 2:33 am

Those are some great photos, Mitch. Thank for sharing!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 29 Mar 2021 4:42 am

Andy Sannella and his cat, 1931

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 29 Mar 2021 7:11 am

Don't know how I left this one out.

This is the Tiny Stokes band with long-time and well-remembered forum member Billy Tonnesen (deceased 2014) on steel. I think Billy was born in 1929 and he said on this forum that he worked for Stokes in 1944 or 1945....so he's no more than 16 here, before he ever recorded and before he worked for Ole Rasmussen.

Go to Youtube and listen to Tiny take a tour of every beer joint in Montana on "Blackfoot Boogie". If only I could go downtown and hear something like that.

The address shown is found in Bell Gardens and I think Billy lived in that LA suburb at one time.

Regarding the second pic: not a band pic, but I assume everyone can ID at least 2 people in it?

Mark Kocon · Post by **Mark Kocon** » 29 Mar 2021 8:12 am

The two pictures of the kids with all the steels reminded me of the band i was in grammar school in the â€˜50s. It a Polish Parochial school. 54 accordions and I played guitar with 2 other guys.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 29 Mar 2021 9:02 am

Gotta love those home-made steel guitar stands. The one underneath the Console Grande looks like it would support a Hammond, while the one holding the BR-9 looks as rickety as a house of cards.

Great old pix, guys; fascinating!

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 29 Mar 2021 11:57 am

Looks like the guy in the bottom picture of Andy's post is playing one of those Martin-made Paramount guitars. You don't see them very often...

Dave

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 29 Mar 2021 12:38 pm

Cool. Never noticed that, Dave. Found some info on that model here: http://vintagemartin.com/Martin30_Paramount_L.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwfPMhc92_0

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 29 Mar 2021 12:45 pm

And this one courtesy of David Matzenik ... movie still with George Pils, Sol Ho'opi'i Danny Kuaana and several other "usual suspects."

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 29 Mar 2021 3:08 pm

Andy Volk wrote:Cool. Never noticed that, Dave. Found some info on that model here: http://vintagemartin.com/Martin30_Paramount_L.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwfPMhc92_0

And of course, the Paramounts were famous for their "Piano Volume and Harp Quality Tone." And Harry Reser played them. How could you go wrong?

Dave

Cody Farwell · Post by **Cody Farwell** » 22 Oct 2023 2:25 am

Doug Beaumier wrote:

Anyone know who this group is?

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 22 Oct 2023 6:37 am

Bill Pester plays his Weissenborn in front of his hut in Palm Springs, CA circa 1917. Pester was the inspiration for the Nat King Cole hit Nature Boy in 1948.

Chris Clem · Post by **Chris Clem** » 24 Oct 2023 9:52 am

1947 Dick McIntire water float parade at Newport Beach Ca.Note he is playing a Frying Pan.

Michael B Scott · Post by **Michael B Scott** » 9 Nov 2023 3:58 am

Gary Cooper and his tricone

Michael B Scott · Post by **Michael B Scott** » 9 Nov 2023 4:00 am

Gabby and “da boyz”

Michael B Scott · Post by **Michael B Scott** » 9 Nov 2023 4:01 am

Gary Cooper and his tricone

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 Nov 2023 4:30 am

Andrea Tazzini · Post by **Andrea Tazzini** » 13 Nov 2023 11:29 pm

Doug Beaumier wrote:Wow, that's a heck of a picture, Andy. I'm gonna steal that one from you and post it on my Instagram page.

I too!!