Exploring 100 year old (your) ukes

[richntacoma]

As usual I am late to the party, as far as this topic…I have been collecting mainland ukuleles for a few decades now and as I mostly play baritone and none of those were around 100 years ago so I can’t post those. Old bari’s should be a separate topic. Maybe they should be 50 years old as they have only been around about half as long. I will take pictures of several pre 1922 instruments as I own both Soprano and Concert ukuleles that are 100 or more. I just never get around to photography. I suppose humidification is more important than photographs.
As a native Philadelphian I am interested in mostly Martin and Weymann instruments but I have a few others and some seldom seen ukes. My interest has always been Historical so I restore when I find time and sometimes have to send the difficult work out to professionals to do tasks I am not competent at. So there are always what I will call projects that are not yet ready to play. I like bringing orphaned instruments back to playable instruments, it is a hobby. I have gotten much help here from those more adept at tackling issues and I am grateful for this site as everyone seems to pitch in and help. I have a few old Hawaiian instruments as well but they are not my focus.
I do play Soprano but being a guitar player first I mostly play baritone I suppose this has held me back from purchasing many Soprano Ukuleles that should have been given a second chance I just can not buy and fix everything. I placed a few dozen Ukuleles this year and I don’t offer them here as I don’t want to come off as a dealer because I am a collector and player. I rarely make much on any instrument as it is strictly a hobby.
i have learned a great deal about Vintage Ukuleles especially ones that were built in the US outside of Hawaii. The Hawaiian built Ukuleles are a study themselves. I grew up near the Martin factory so I am very familiar with Martin Ukuleles and my go to ukulele is a Martin Baritone.
There are also a few websites out there with great examples of early Ukuleles and some good information on makers I particularly like “Lardy’s Ukulele database“ which has been a great place to get information on various makers. You may be surprised at how many Ukulele makers are out there. I will post some photos of the more unusual Ukuleles as soon as I get some time. In the meantime looking through these posts has been a pleasure and it makes me happy to see all of those who play these wonderful Vintage Ukuleles.

I went to school and then lived in Philadelphia for a decade, and so am super interested in seeing your Weymann!

 

[Ziret]

As usual I am late to the party, as far as this topic…I have been collecting mainland ukuleles for a few decades now and as I mostly play baritone and none of those were around 100 years ago so I can’t post those. Old bari’s should be a separate topic. Maybe they should be 50 years old as they have only been around about half as long. I will take pictures of several pre 1922 instruments as I own both Soprano and Concert ukuleles that are 100 or more. I just never get around to photography. I suppose humidification is more important than photographs.
As a native Philadelphian I am interested in mostly Martin and Weymann instruments but I have a few others and some seldom seen ukes. My interest has always been Historical so I restore when I find time and sometimes have to send the difficult work out to professionals to do tasks I am not competent at. So there are always what I will call projects that are not yet ready to play. I like bringing orphaned instruments back to playable instruments, it is a hobby. I have gotten much help here from those more adept at tackling issues and I am grateful for this site as everyone seems to pitch in and help. I have a few old Hawaiian instruments as well but they are not my focus.
I do play Soprano but being a guitar player first I mostly play baritone I suppose this has held me back from purchasing many Soprano Ukuleles that should have been given a second chance I just can not buy and fix everything. I placed a few dozen Ukuleles this year and I don’t offer them here as I don’t want to come off as a dealer because I am a collector and player. I rarely make much on any instrument as it is strictly a hobby.
i have learned a great deal about Vintage Ukuleles especially ones that were built in the US outside of Hawaii. The Hawaiian built Ukuleles are a study themselves. I grew up near the Martin factory so I am very familiar with Martin Ukuleles and my go to ukulele is a Martin Baritone.
There are also a few websites out there with great examples of early Ukuleles and some good information on makers I particularly like “Lardy’s Ukulele database“ which has been a great place to get information on various makers. You may be surprised at how many Ukulele makers are out there. I will post some photos of the more unusual Ukuleles as soon as I get some time. In the meantime looking through these posts has been a pleasure and it makes me happy to see all of those who play these wonderful Vintage Ukuleles.

I wish you posted your restored ukes here. I think it would be very well received.

 

[CPG]

I went to school and then lived in Philadelphia for a decade, and so am super interested in seeing your Weymann!

As a fellow Weymann owner and as someone who has spent the majority of my post college adult life in Philly (only relocated to South Jersey a year and a half ago), I would also be very interested in seeing that Weymann.

 

[Jag-Stang]

So here is a transitional Lyon & Healy made Washburn UG model Soprano my guess is built in 1921 so 101 years old. I just started working on this one so I have a temporary tuning peg as I am carving a replacement for a broken peg. I haven’t cleaned it or serviced it but had a chance to check string height and intonation so there is work to be done which I can post once I complete it. It is, as I often find, different from what is written about Washburn Ukuleles than what is in the Washburn book. First it is all mahogany, it has a serial number and it has it’s UG Washburn stamp behind headstock. It does not have a mustache bridge and it is not 6 1/2” at lower bout.. IT FOLLOWS DETAILS FROM PRE 1922 AND POST 1922 as it is all mahogany not plyed mahogany sides, it is 6 1/4” at lower bought and has the earlier bridge all pre 1922 details however it does have a fretboard that goes over the top which appears to be a koa fretboard. This was not supposed to have an over the top style board nor a serial number as both make it post 1922. My guess is it is a transitional Ukulele so made before 1922 but around 1921 during the changes. What is most interesting is the G after the U was stamped crooked as though it was supposed to be another model then it was decided to be a G.. I can only guess it is an early UG model prior to the mustache bridge and change to plied mahogany sides. There just is not enough information about Lyon & Healy ukuleles as they did no advertising kept few records and were a small production compared to Martin I am posting this one as I am starting work on it. It is a crack free example which is a good candidate for tidying it up.

 

[Jag-Stang]

I went to school and then lived in Philadelphia for a decade, and so am super interested in seeing your Weymann!

I will get some photos next week I have a few Weymann banjo mandolins as well as a few ukuleles.

 

[aremick]

My Style 2, Circa 1920 ...

 

[Jag-Stang]

Here is one of my favorite Ukuleles A Hawaiian made Moana from about 1915 or so It is one of the fancier koa Ukuleles from that period

 

[TimWilson]

As usual I am late to the party, as far as this topic…I have been collecting mainland ukuleles for a few decades now and as I mostly play baritone and none of those were around 100 years ago so I can’t post those. Old bari’s should be a separate topic. Maybe they should be 50 years old as they have only been around about half as long. I will take pictures of several pre 1922 instruments as I own both Soprano and Concert ukuleles that are 100 or more. I just never get around to photography. I suppose humidification is more important than photographs.
As a native Philadelphian I am interested in mostly Martin and Weymann instruments but I have a few others and some seldom seen ukes. My interest has always been Historical so I restore when I find time and sometimes have to send the difficult work out to professionals to do tasks I am not competent at. So there are always what I will call projects that are not yet ready to play. I like bringing orphaned instruments back to playable instruments, it is a hobby. I have gotten much help here from those more adept at tackling issues and I am grateful for this site as everyone seems to pitch in and help. I have a few old Hawaiian instruments as well but they are not my focus.
I do play Soprano but being a guitar player first I mostly play baritone I suppose this has held me back from purchasing many Soprano Ukuleles that should have been given a second chance I just can not buy and fix everything. I placed a few dozen Ukuleles this year and I don’t offer them here as I don’t want to come off as a dealer because I am a collector and player. I rarely make much on any instrument as it is strictly a hobby.
i have learned a great deal about Vintage Ukuleles especially ones that were built in the US outside of Hawaii. The Hawaiian built Ukuleles are a study themselves. I grew up near the Martin factory so I am very familiar with Martin Ukuleles and my go to ukulele is a Martin Baritone.
There are also a few websites out there with great examples of early Ukuleles and some good information on makers I particularly like “Lardy’s Ukulele database“ which has been a great place to get information on various makers. You may be surprised at how many Ukulele makers are out there. I will post some photos of the more unusual Ukuleles as soon as I get some time. In the meantime looking through these posts has been a pleasure and it makes me happy to see all of those who play these wonderful Vintage Ukuleles.

Wow! That's a stunner! Maybe by favorite so far on this thread!

 

[Oldscruggsfan]

Here is one of my favorite Ukuleles A Hawaiian made Moana from about 1915 or so It is one of the fancier koa Ukuleles from that period

Wow, Jag-Stang! Is the fingerboard also Koa?

 

[Strumdaddy]

Here is one of my favorite Ukuleles A Hawaiian made Moana from about 1915 or so It is one of the fancier koa Ukuleles from that period

Very pretty!! I love these early Hawaiian made ukes. I have a Sam Chang from late 20's. He seemed to refine the design to be more like a Martin - separate fret board, Martinish shape.... but all koa.
Mine is as light as a feather and has a big voice that really cuts. When I first got it I busked on the busy streets of Byron Bay un-amplified and was easilly heard!

 

[John Colter]

"I have a Sam Chang from late 20's"

Be still my beating heart!

 

[mountain goat]

mate, i'd pay for the plane fare to come listen
to you busk in Byron central. ❤️

 

[Strumdaddy]

mate, i'd pay for the plane fare to come listen
to you busk in Byron central.

mate, i'd pay for the plane fare to come listen
to you busk in Byron central. ❤️

Come on up - bring your Hollywood and we can show those young folk with their Cole Clark guitars and stomp boxes how it's done!!! And get out of the rain too

 

[RosieKamozie]

1920 Weymann No. 20 #28743 - I don’t typically name instruments but this one is affectionately called “Granny.” Incredible voice and a delight to play. Sat in a closet for years prior to purchase from Gryphon Strings. I put in new humidification bags for winter and am having a great day Halloween playing 🎃

…pics from my phone always turn sideways on here. Is there a way to fix that?

 

[CPG]

1920 Weymann No. 20 #28743 - I don’t typically name instruments but this one is affectionately called “Granny.” Incredible voice and a delight to play. Sat in a closet for years prior to purchase from Gryphon Strings. I put in new humidification bags for winter and am having a great day Halloween playing 🎃

…pics from my phone always turn sideways on here. Is there a way to fix that?

I remember when this one was at Grypon. Damn near bought it for myself. It is stunning example of a fairly uncommon instrument.

 

[Ukecaster]

Martin 1924 Style on left, 1919 Style 1 on right.

 

[Junie Moon]

Not mine, though I wish it was! Check out the 1920s Kamaka Pineapple on Flea Market Music market place posted by Ukulele Mania. Bellissima!

Japanese listing: https://www.digimart.net/cat04/shop4805/DS07859765/

 

[Mivo]

My oldest uke is a Lyon&Healy built Washburn from the early 1920s. It required a small bridge repair some years ago (you can see where a string ripped off part of the bridge), but plays fine. It's a bit battered, but hasn't lost its voice over the past hundred years. All original parts. The tuners are amazing still, no slipping at all, even after so many years. Took the photos outside for better lighting!

Photos:

https://imgur.com/a/A63KKXh

Two recordings of it (laptop mic, played by Andreas David; I'm not nearly the player he is, but wanted to hear this uke played at its full potential, so I asked him to play it for me a few years ago, which he kindly did):
washburn-soprano-20160520a.mp3
washburn-soprano-20160520b.mp3

 

[Strumdaddy]

Here's one from the 20"s. I couldn't resist the look of this one... "Glee Club" logo ( a range of different instruments by Regal, through Bruno and Sons), gorgeous flamey mahogany and creamy binding all around.
It sounds loud and percussive - perfect for boating down the river with my Sweety, or serenading her at her college dorm window.... "Shine on, shine on harvest moon...."
(images by Jake Wildwood)

 

[Poul Hansen]

That IS a beauty Looks better than a Martin,how much was it?