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  #1  
Old 02-21-2021, 11:32 AM
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hubcapsc hubcapsc is offline
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Default Silvertone... archtop?

A lady at Church brought me some pictures of Granddaddy's guitar...
her mama was born around 1935, and remembers it as a child, so
I guess it is mid-40s or earlier? I could get a chance to look at it
in person... I guess there'd be some stamps on the headblock
or something that might help date it. Posting pictures of it on
The Acoustic Guitar Forum might help too ...













-Mike
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Old 02-21-2021, 11:38 AM
EllenGtrGrl EllenGtrGrl is offline
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Yep, Silvertone sold archtops for quite some time. I think they were made by Harmony or Kay. I almost bought a 50s Silvertone archtop 10 years ago from a local guitar shop, but considering how much work it needed, and that they were low end guitars, decided to pass on buying it - it did sound pretty cool though.
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Old 02-21-2021, 11:52 AM
Tube Sound Tube Sound is offline
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I'm no expert in dating these but remember reading that some Harmony's had a date stamp on the backside of the top. If you don't have luck looking elsewhere, might check that. Not as easy to do with an f hole. I love bringing back old guitars like that. I don't know about the "rode hard" but this one looks like it was put away wet. Very cool, though.
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Old 02-21-2021, 12:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tube Sound View Post
I'm no expert in dating these but remember reading that some Harmony's had a date stamp on the backside of the top. If you don't have luck looking elsewhere, might check that. Not as easy to do with an f hole. I love bringing back old guitars like that. I don't know about the "rode hard" but this one looks like it was put away wet. Very cool, though.
It just sits in a stand in some upstairs bedroom these days, as I understand.

It has history though... they lived way back up in there where lake Jocassee
is now. All the people would come over all the time and play music on
the porch and stuff. I imagine it was like this video from just up the way
in the Hendersonville area...

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Old 02-21-2021, 12:36 PM
JKMartin JKMartin is offline
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If you look through the bass side f-hole, you should be able to see something like this (stamped on the back):

5.jpg

This picture shows the marking for a Silvertone H702 model (built by Harmony?), batch number 2615, manufactured in the second half of 1957 (my guitar).

The factory shut down for a period during the summer, so guitars are marked 'F' for 1st half of year, 'S' for 2nd half. Some sources claim 'F' for fall, 'S' for spring or summer, but I believe the 1st half, 2nd half story.

You may be able to find more information on the specific model at this site: https://www.silvertoneworld.net/acoustic.html

Last edited by JKMartin; 02-21-2021 at 12:47 PM. Reason: added link
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Old 02-21-2021, 12:57 PM
mauricemcm mauricemcm is offline
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Default A bit like my 1936 Cremona

It is similar to my 1936 Harmony Cremona which is my best guitar. Will she be willing to let you try tuning it up?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1254...ew?usp=sharing

Last edited by mauricemcm; 02-24-2021 at 06:29 AM. Reason: mage link correction
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Old 02-21-2021, 01:49 PM
zombywoof zombywoof is offline
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Based on the doodle on the headstock, the bent-tab tuners and such, my best guess is that the guitar dates to the early-1940s. That would make it one of the first Silvertones. Sears owned Harmony up to 1939 with their house brand being Supertone. The Silvertone name does not appear on Sears guitars (I think it was being used on radios and such though) until after Harmony was no longer owned by Sears with both Kay and Harmony providing the store with Crest and then Silvertone-badged instruments. If your guitar did not have the neck binding I would think it was a Kay-made model 290.
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Last edited by zombywoof; 02-21-2021 at 01:55 PM.
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Old 02-21-2021, 07:20 PM
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As I look around I can find this silvertoneworld.net site with lots
of pictures and history... This guitar might be a silvertone 290
or similar...

https://www.silvertoneworld.net/acoustic/290/290.html

The 290 is the only one I see with the right headstock design.
The fretboard dots don't seem quite like the example on silvertoneworld,
the bridge either.

The 290 has a carved Adirondack top and maple back and sides,
they only made it for a year.

-Mike
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Old 02-21-2021, 09:11 PM
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Steven Kovacik has a picture of a good set of those tuners
with the covers...



-Mike
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Old 02-21-2021, 09:38 PM
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this ebay silvertone seems close... the headstock has the right
decal, but it is much plainer and has different tuners...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293873513154

-Mike
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Old 02-22-2021, 04:23 AM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hubcapsc View Post
It just sits in a stand in some upstairs bedroom these days, as I understand.

It has history though... they lived way back up in there where lake Jocassee
is now. All the people would come over all the time and play music on
the porch and stuff. I imagine it was like this video from just up the way
in the Hendersonville area...

I Love The David Hoffman Videos!
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Old 02-26-2021, 04:24 PM
Scott of the Sa Scott of the Sa is offline
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I am stating the obvious: the bridge is in the wrong position. It should be spaced in the middle of the F holes. Much closer to the bottom of the guitar.
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Old 03-01-2021, 08:44 AM
MC5C MC5C is offline
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I have guitars from that era with those exact Kluson tuners. None of them had the covers, so they might have been an option. Covers are cool, though. Agree on the bridge location, there is a shadow mark on the top above where the bridge is now that suggests it's been in random places for decades, and hasn't been played in decades and more... I have a real soft spot for vintage Silvertones, I have a three pickup 1445.
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Old 03-04-2021, 07:00 PM
mauricemcm mauricemcm is offline
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It has the requisite cigarette burn on the head stock,
making it a true honky-tonk machine.
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  #15  
Old 07-14-2021, 06:04 AM
mauricemcm mauricemcm is offline
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Default Harmony

I was supprised to see a comeback of Harmony.

Last edited by Kerbie; 07-14-2021 at 07:02 PM. Reason: Repaired link.
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