cast aluminum laps

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 19 May 2005 1:10 pm

I found this image on the web. cast aluminum lap steels fom the 30's.
didnt know Jules Verne was a designer.
hope this pic works for everyone.

Gary Boyett · Post by **Gary Boyett** » 19 May 2005 5:37 pm

Those look like the original Doprea (dobro) lap steels. A friend of mine has one and it's pretty cool. You still can't beat a Ricky though!

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JCFSGC member since 2005
Fenders- Georgeboard- Melobar
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Colin Brooks · Post by **Colin Brooks** » 19 May 2005 11:19 pm

If you want the full size viewing experience, http://www.notecannons.com/
More Nationals than you can shake a stick at!

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 20 May 2005 8:24 am

Those really are some great looking steels. "Jules Verne" indeed!

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 20 May 2005 at 09:24 AM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 20 May 2005 3:58 pm

I believe the steels pictured are not aluminum, but cast zinc, such as the National models.

colinmcc · Post by **colinmcc** » 21 Jun 2005 1:32 pm

Hi,

The picture is from my site, I'm glad you guys like it!

Although these instruments were also made as Dobro brand instruments, those seen here are all branded with the National name cast into the body. All 5 are different, the first had vol only, with fixed height pickup, no handrest. Then vol and tone positioned in the tail bout with hand rest, then seven string same configuration (just different shaped handrest).

Then vol/tone moved to by PU adjuster, also came in 6 and 7 string models! And that is just the National versions, before you start on their Dobro siblings and the odd even rarer Supro versions.

Bill, I'm interested in the cast Zinc theory, I have always taken them to be Ali but will have to check up on that!

[This message was edited by colinmcc on 21 June 2005 at 02:33 PM.][This message was edited by colinmcc on 21 June 2005 at 02:34 PM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 21 Jun 2005 1:44 pm

I've checked into zinc alloy.

Zamack-27 (ZA-27) is up to 3 times stronger than cast aluminum and has a tensile strength similiar to that of cast iron.

It's casting temperature is about 400 F lower than aluminum.

They say its a very good casting alloy ... but the fumes are toxic ...

I'll stick to A356 ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

colinmcc · Post by **colinmcc** » 21 Jun 2005 2:26 pm

Hi Rick,

Thanks! Excuse my ignorance, so are you saying the Nationals were made of Zamack? ( Zinc Alloy ZA-27 ) rather than Aluminum Alloy A356, which is, according to:

http://budgetcastingsupply.com/Metals.htm

the "industry standard" for casting aluminum.

[This message was edited by colinmcc on 21 June 2005 at 03:30 PM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 21 Jun 2005 3:21 pm

I don't know what alloy those folks used ... Rickenbacher and/or National/Dobro.

I shopped around and studied alot (just my way) ... and A356 aluminum alloy seemed the most appealing for what I wanted ...

BCS is the place I buy my stuff ... nice folks

I buy full ingots ... then chop saw them up to fit my crucible.

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 21 Jun 2005 4:48 pm

The first Rick frypan I repaired needed a small piece of cast aluminum to fix it, and the foundry ran a spectroscope(?) analysis to determine what the alloy was. They said the nearest to modern alloy was 320 aluminum, so they cast me a piece of that alloy, which worked ok. I know nothing about alloys except the aircraft stuff I use.

colinmcc · Post by **colinmcc** » 21 Jun 2005 7:28 pm

So it looks like it was probably Ali and I'll leave my website title of 'Aluminium lap steels' as it is.

(Although if I knew enough web stuff I could probably sniff out where visitors come from and spell it right for both the English and the USA audiences!)

Once again thanks for the information.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 22 Jun 2005 4:57 am

I enjoyed looking at you web site with all those vintage instruments.
I couldnt resist grabbing an image and posting it here.
very interesting replies.

thank youy.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » 29 Jun 2005 10:09 pm

I cant tell you with out looking at my catalog but Natinol and Dobro are brothers and at one time they made only Dobros.

Robro ron

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 30 Jun 2005 12:12 pm

Here's the aluminum Dobro http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/detail?.dir=6323&.dnm=773d.jpg&.src=ph
Here's the Supro aluminum http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/r_shatz/detail?.dir=a91a&.dnm=82f4.jpg&.src=ph
Currently there is a Bronson (Supro aluminum) with amp for sale on EBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7333627430&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 30 Jun 2005 3:56 pm

Richard,
Whenever I get to feeling a little bit smug about my collection, you humble me.
By the way- go for the Bronson, you need it.

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 1 Jul 2005 8:46 pm

Thanks for the kind words.
My collection numbers close to 80 and the available wall space has gotten real small. So, I have to pick and chose carefully when I think I need to make an addition. The Bronson set is pretty cool and the Bronson name makes it a real rarity, but it's the same as the Supro. The current high bidder is Lynn Wheelwright, who is probably the most knowledgeable man on the planet about lap steels and a lot of other guitar related stuff. He has bid fairly high early in the auction. So, I think he's very interested.
Anyway, the Supro frypan isn't a great player IMO. So I will probably pass and let Lynn have it, unless the spirit moves me at the last minute.

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 2 Jul 2005 1:43 am

My Main axe is a Dobro version of a "Crab" or "Jules Vern" guitar.

It is a fantastic instrument. Smooth, rich & mellow tone. I love taking it into clubs (I have the original case)& some people ask me "What kind of instrument is in the case?" When I tell then it's a lap steel made in 1935 they can't wait to see it. When I play my first solo of the night they usually give me a nice courteous applause. I usually plug it into a Fender Blues Jr.... It screams!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 2 Jul 2005 3:42 am

Richard, I lust after the aluminum Haw 2.
Never seen a finer design.

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 2 Jul 2005 7:34 am

I would love to have either a Dobro or National cast aluminum lap steel. That "Jules Verne" look is awesome.

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 2 Jul 2005 7:57 am

There's a National aluminum for sale on Ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7333458206&rd=1&sspagena me=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 [This message was edited by Richard Shatz on 02 July 2005 at 09:44 AM.]