The Steel Guitar Forum

http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3055081407.html

I came across this on my local craigslist. I've seen a lot of Electraharps, but never one like this. No visible Gibson logo, but you know what they say -- if it looks like a fish and smells like a fish, it's probably an Electraharp... Anyways, it also looks like the body is made out of a circa 1979 kitchen counter. Potential for an 8-string PAF pickup.

Does anyone know more about this particular peculiar?

That is a 50's era Harlin Brothers Multi-Kord. Look under the lid on the changer end and you will see it stamped there.

Ah hah! Mystery solved, thanks Danny.

I cut my teeth on one of those Multi-Kords. I took lessons from the Harlin Bros. starting when I was 10 in 1948 for 4 yrs. then was a student teacher for 2 yrs. there in their studio in Indianapolis.

Jay Harlin held the first patent in 1947 on a pedal steel guitar with his Multi-Kord.

That mother of pearl finish, some people refer to as M.O.T. Mother of Toilet seat, in the 50's a lot of toilet seats had that finish. It is a thin paper like finish glued or stuck on by a special process.

The changers in the old Multi-Kords were pretty unique in that you could completely change the tunings for all 4 or 6 pedals they came out with in a matter of minutes without turning the guitar upside down, like is necessary on the modern pedal steels being made today. You could raise or lower each and / or all strings with each pedal in any combination.

Gibson came out with their Electra Harp, that Alvino Rey was instrumental in designing, while he was with them. Because of a patent infringement dispute with Harlin Bros., Gibson discontinued it.

Fender had one that would do that too,- the PS-210, but they only made just a few of them, and never did put them into serous production. I believe they made less than 20 of them. It was a totally different design, and also was quite unique, but it was said to be very heavy. Bazil Henriques did a very complete article on it here on this forum a while back and it should be in the archives.