*Very* Strange 1936 Harmony Steel

Jeff Lucas · Post by **Jeff Lucas** » 10 May 2004 2:48 pm

Just wondering if any of you have any knowledge of this strange beast. Click here and scratch your head!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 May 2004 3:40 pm

No idea but what cool, original industrial design!

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 10 May 2004 5:29 pm

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 · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 10 May 2004 5:35 pm

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 · Post by **HowardR** » 10 May 2004 6:05 pm

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 · Post by **Russ Young** » 10 May 2004 6:08 pm

Chuck Fisher · Post by **Chuck Fisher** » 10 May 2004 10:18 pm

neat. A graceful design. I wonder kow much its going for?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 May 2004 2:12 am

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.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 11 May 2004 7:22 am

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 · Post by **Russ Young** » 11 May 2004 7:47 am

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 · Post by **Bill Creller** » 11 May 2004 2:31 pm

Howard, I thought the Vega was a cast zinc guitar(??) I could be wrong though, 'cause I was wrong once in 1947.
Bill

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 11 May 2004 2:52 pm

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 · Post by **Russ Young** » 26 May 2004 11:04 am

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 · Post by **Alvin Sydnor** » 26 May 2004 5:31 pm

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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Very Strange 1936 Harmony Steel

Very Strange 1936 Harmony Steel