Turtle
Active member
I've been purchasing a few ukes to work on learning some basic repair skills. Mostly items with crack or missing bridges.
But, I couldn't resist a shot at a nice Lyon and Healy "Camp Uke" that actually not only didn't need any repairs but was in great condition. It arrived today. What a sweet little uke. The finger board is narrower than what I am used to but it is in really top notch condition. You wouldn't believe it was over 75 years old.
While I was waiting for it to be delivered, I did a little research about Camp Ukes. This one is a Lyon and Healy probably made in the 1920s. There are several conflicting reports I have read. The Ukulele Hall of Fame website states
"Some models had no soundhole at all, while more often they featured a circular or oval soundhole (like yours). Some have a flat wooden back, others have a turned wooden back. Fancier models like yours featured a gold-leaf decal below the bridge.The "Camp Uke" name was registered by Lyon and Healy in 1923, but they claimed first use in 1921. Lyon and Healy used unusual woods on some of their ukuleles. The Camp Ukes were made from Nyssa wood. The 1925 Lyon and Healy catalog features three models of Camp Uke all "made of two-ply, laminated Nyssa wood". It goes on to explain that "Laminated means that the wood is two layers, the grains cross-wise, carefully glued together. The one layer reinforces the other. Nyssa wood is strong, not easily cracked, and possesses wonderful vibrating qualities.""
On the Antebellum Instruments Website, there is a twin of my Camp Uke.
http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2009/01/c1925-lyon-healy-monkeypod-camp-uke.html
It is identical in terms of the soundhole, tuners, turned back, and fretboard markers. That sight states that the uke was made from Monkeypod Wood.
I don't think mine is laminated. Examining the edges of the soundhole under 10x magnification, shows all the grain of the wood going through the full width of the soundboard with no indication of being a laminate.
I'm curious about other people's experiences with Camp Ukes.
Yayyyy!
Turtle
But, I couldn't resist a shot at a nice Lyon and Healy "Camp Uke" that actually not only didn't need any repairs but was in great condition. It arrived today. What a sweet little uke. The finger board is narrower than what I am used to but it is in really top notch condition. You wouldn't believe it was over 75 years old.
While I was waiting for it to be delivered, I did a little research about Camp Ukes. This one is a Lyon and Healy probably made in the 1920s. There are several conflicting reports I have read. The Ukulele Hall of Fame website states
"Some models had no soundhole at all, while more often they featured a circular or oval soundhole (like yours). Some have a flat wooden back, others have a turned wooden back. Fancier models like yours featured a gold-leaf decal below the bridge.The "Camp Uke" name was registered by Lyon and Healy in 1923, but they claimed first use in 1921. Lyon and Healy used unusual woods on some of their ukuleles. The Camp Ukes were made from Nyssa wood. The 1925 Lyon and Healy catalog features three models of Camp Uke all "made of two-ply, laminated Nyssa wood". It goes on to explain that "Laminated means that the wood is two layers, the grains cross-wise, carefully glued together. The one layer reinforces the other. Nyssa wood is strong, not easily cracked, and possesses wonderful vibrating qualities.""
On the Antebellum Instruments Website, there is a twin of my Camp Uke.
http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2009/01/c1925-lyon-healy-monkeypod-camp-uke.html
It is identical in terms of the soundhole, tuners, turned back, and fretboard markers. That sight states that the uke was made from Monkeypod Wood.
I don't think mine is laminated. Examining the edges of the soundhole under 10x magnification, shows all the grain of the wood going through the full width of the soundboard with no indication of being a laminate.
I'm curious about other people's experiences with Camp Ukes.
Yayyyy!
Turtle