Russ Sonny Kemner
Well-known member
O.K. I live in Fort Wayne Indiana. I like to build and restore musical instruments. I found this little dude at a flea market last weekend. Looked old and dilapidated. My first thought was to restore it into a playable instrument. I paid $12.00 for it and took it home.
The first thing that caught my attention was the sloppy hand carving on the back of the head that reads " "Buster" APR 29 1923 " and then the stamped in PAT APL'D FOR.
I have seen some of the old camp ukes, so I did a little research on the web and found some photo's of the Lyon and Healy (Original Washburn) Camp Ukes from the mid 1920's.
Decided that I probably shouldn't mess with this instrument until I found out exactly what I have here.
THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP..PLEASE.. In the attached photo's of the Lyon and Healy uke the Pat APL'D For stamp on the bridge and headstock is identical to the stamp on this uke I found. Also the head stock shape and neck heel are the same.
So I am wondering, should I restore this little dude so that it can sing again, (obviously will not make music in present condition) - Or is there historic value here that I would erase by refurbishing?
Any info on this would be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ibKgLfcnnc
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The first thing that caught my attention was the sloppy hand carving on the back of the head that reads " "Buster" APR 29 1923 " and then the stamped in PAT APL'D FOR.
I have seen some of the old camp ukes, so I did a little research on the web and found some photo's of the Lyon and Healy (Original Washburn) Camp Ukes from the mid 1920's.
Decided that I probably shouldn't mess with this instrument until I found out exactly what I have here.
THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP..PLEASE.. In the attached photo's of the Lyon and Healy uke the Pat APL'D For stamp on the bridge and headstock is identical to the stamp on this uke I found. Also the head stock shape and neck heel are the same.
So I am wondering, should I restore this little dude so that it can sing again, (obviously will not make music in present condition) - Or is there historic value here that I would erase by refurbishing?
Any info on this would be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ibKgLfcnnc
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