Vintage steel guitarist photos - more added

[Andy Volk]

Unknown (from eBay auction) The film in the poster came out in 1939.


Looen Bowling Hawaiian Trio, Rhumba Casino, Chicago, 1944


J.L. Jenkins


Square Dance Band, Texas, 1940s?


Unknown band, Cleveland, Ohio, 1950s


Billy Mize, Bakersfield, CA 1950s


Conrad and his Hawaiians, 1930s


Snearly Boys, 1940s? Warning: Bobby doesn't like comments about his footwear.

[Anthony Lis]

Some interesting additional photos . . . thank you for posting these!

[John Sluszny]

[Scott Thomas]

Unknown band, Cleveland, Ohio, 1950s


That Ludwig set with the "top hat" wrap is really sweet to see. It's a holy grail among collectors. I read that there are only 15 sets known to exist today. I see one online right now for 30 grand.

That's not to mention the Tele. Picking out the "vintage" instruments in a contemporary setting is half fun of it for me.

[John Rosett]

Great pictures. Thanks Andy!

[Terry Wood]

Great pictures Andy! Thanks for sharing these pictures

[Andy Volk]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying 'em. Here are a few more ....

Letitia Kandle - cool double neck


Billy_Hew_Len_backstage_April_1981


Hawaiian Sharps late 40s;early 50s?


Gibson_Steel_Guitar_Ad_Metronome_Feb_1949


Ron Welch's Dad (name?) playing through the turntable speakers


Unknown San Francisco band with all Boston -built Vega instruments


Indiana_Drifters late 40's; early 50's

[Andy Volk]

Steel great Red Rhodes


Texas band. Year?

[Chris Lucker]

Andy, thank you for posting these photos.

Does anyone know the model name of the fat body Rickenbacker Andy V posted?
I saw Leon McAuliffe's when a vintage dealer was selling some of McAuliffe's things.

[Mike Neer]

Andy, thank you for posting these photos.

Does anyone know the model name of the fat body Rickenbacker Andy V posted?
I saw Leon McAuliffe's when a vintage dealer was selling some of McAuliffe's things.

I believe it was simply called D16.

[Ron Funk]

'Love all these old photos Andy

Please keep them coming -

Thanks for posting -
Ron

[Craig Stock]

Thanks Andy,

It would be cool to hear what some of these bands sounded like, so many cool combinations!

[Andy Volk]

Here are the Snearly Ranch Boys ....

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

Letritia Kandle Recordings download Link (thanks to Jay Fagerlie).
https://www.dropbox.com/.../c1y.../AAC_ ... t-ou_b4YOa

[Chris Lucker]

Andy, thank you for posting these photos.

Does anyone know the model name of the fat body Rickenbacker Andy V posted?
I saw Leon McAuliffe's when a vintage dealer was selling some of McAuliffe's things.

I believe it was simply called D16.

How did they differentiate between the fat one and the thinner model with 1.75" and 2.25" necks which I know is called a D16?

[Marc Muller]

Unknown band, Cleveland, Ohio, 1950s


That Ludwig set with the "top hat" wrap is really sweet to see. It's a holy grail among collectors. I read that there are only 15 sets known to exist today. I see one online right now for 30 grand.

That's not to mention the Tele. Picking out the "vintage" instruments in a contemporary setting is half fun of it for me.

This was taken from my post when I got the steel from the original owner. He also had a 55 strat that my friend now owns. Just spoke with Loran the steeler in the pic and at 94, he's doing great.

[Noah Miller]

Andy, thank you for posting these photos.

Does anyone know the model name of the fat body Rickenbacker Andy V posted?
I saw Leon McAuliffe's when a vintage dealer was selling some of McAuliffe's things.

I believe it was simply called D16.

How did they differentiate between the fat one and the thinner model with 1.75" and 2.25" necks which I know is called a D16?

Same model, different eras; there were a number of variations between the early '40s and the late '50s. The taller one was early post-War.

[Scott Thomas]

This was taken from my post when I got the steel from the original owner. He also had a 55 strat that my friend now owns. Just spoke with Loran the steeler in the pic and at 94, he's doing great.

Very cool, Marc! Nice to hear.

[Andy Volk]

Thanks for the info, Marc! I hadn't recalled where that pic was from.

[Marc Muller]

Thanks for the info, Marc! I hadn't recalled where that pic was from.

Loran says hi!

[Andy Volk]

So great he is still here and still playing! Loved seeing his old band photo.

[Andy Volk]

Indiana steeler Russ Pollock with his guitar and amp.



William Lorentino, 1926



Felton Williams, Jr. Circa 1963





Fellton W. Williams Jr. was born on January 3, 1934, in Tupelo, Mississippi. In 1943 his family moved to Detroit, where they attended the same House of God Church as fellow steel guitar pioneer Maurice “Ted” Beard. Williams began playing lap steel in 1947, and by 1952 had played for many large church assemblies n Detroit, Toledo, Ohio, Kansas City, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. In 1956 Williams began working as electrician for Ford Motor Company, a job he would have until retirement in 1994. He used his skills as an electrician to build amplifiers and steel guitars. Williams also taught steel guitar to youth from the church, and had a recording studio in his basement. - National Museum of African American History and Culture

[Andy Volk]

Mid-State Drovers (George Gilbertsen, Tex Falkenstein, Leroy Gilbertsen, Chuck Holmes, Rollie Phillips, Johnny Severson)

[Glenn Wilde]

Great stuff Andy!! Thanks, nice to learn about Felton Williams. And Russ Pollock has my Fender Deluxe...
I looked up Russ and found this picture

Looks like he just passed a couple years ago, here's a link to his obituary.
https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com ... /mnj217996

[Andy Volk]

Cool pick! The Smithsonian has a few more picks of Felton playing. I would have loved hearing him play.

[Jack Hanson]

Was Hezzie Trietsch sitting in with the Quaker Melody Boys? Looks like his Wabash Washboard on the backline.