Doc_J
Well-known member
On this rainy American Independence Day, I was wondering if the tenor uke could be considered as an American evolution of the standard Hawaiian uke? This led to the more basic question of who made the first tenor ukulele?
From the references at my disposal (Tranquada & King, Walsh & King) there are some documented tenor uke firsts. The earliest reference states Lyon & Healy introduced a tenor uke in 1923. Leonardo Nunes is listed as introducing his Radio Tenor in 1925. Martin and Harmony introduced their first tenor ukes in 1928. Also, at that time there was a different standard for concert and tenor scale sizes. Concerts were listed as 13.75 to 15.5 inches, tenors were listed as 14.5 to 15.75 inches by the Standards a Committee of the National Association of Musical Instrument and Accessories Manufacturers. (As a sidenote, Sopranos were listed as 13 to 13.75 inches. ). Not everyone followed the standards but those that did would receive the Association's "seal of approval" .
Since these citations are all from larger production builders, I wonder if there are earlier smaller builders of tenor ukes. Anyone know of any?
From the references at my disposal (Tranquada & King, Walsh & King) there are some documented tenor uke firsts. The earliest reference states Lyon & Healy introduced a tenor uke in 1923. Leonardo Nunes is listed as introducing his Radio Tenor in 1925. Martin and Harmony introduced their first tenor ukes in 1928. Also, at that time there was a different standard for concert and tenor scale sizes. Concerts were listed as 13.75 to 15.5 inches, tenors were listed as 14.5 to 15.75 inches by the Standards a Committee of the National Association of Musical Instrument and Accessories Manufacturers. (As a sidenote, Sopranos were listed as 13 to 13.75 inches. ). Not everyone followed the standards but those that did would receive the Association's "seal of approval" .
Since these citations are all from larger production builders, I wonder if there are earlier smaller builders of tenor ukes. Anyone know of any?