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jedistar
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 212
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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 Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject: Aloha guitars and lap steels |
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I have been given some photos of Aloha lap steels and am looking for more info on the brand. Here is what I have to date:
According to Mugwumps an Aloha Manufacturing Co existed in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1911 to around 1927. Aloha Publishing Co, was founded 1935 in Chicago Illinois.
According to Vintage Guitar Price Guide Aloha was a private brand of Aloha Publishing and Musical Instrument Company, Chicago.
Does anyone here know if both companies produced / sold guitars?
also
Ray Meany Aloha model was made by Magnatone in the 1950s and 60s. [Source: Brad's Page of Steel] Was Ray Meany the brand?
I'd be grateful for any info please... |
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Spud1950
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 610
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Was Ray Meany the brand?
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Ray Meany was a composer from Northern California who wrote a lot of Hawiian style songs. He also had a music group that performed Hawiian music.He may be the guy on the covers of this sheet music playing the lap guitar.
http://www.hulapages.com/00598b.jpg
http://www.hulapages.com/01003b.jpg
[/url]http://www.hulapages.com/00419b.jpg[url]
I can't find anything to verify it,but maybe the Magnatone made Aloha model is sort of a Ray Meany "signature model"? Is this the same as the one you ahve a picture of? His name is on the headstock label.
[/url]http://www.philsguitars.com/images/lapsteel/50s_aloha/download.jpg[url]
[/url]http://www.philsguitars.com/images/lapsteel/50s_aloha/download-2.jpg[url]
Here' another Aloha branded lapsteel, but same as the info you got,they don't know exactly who made it.
[/url]http://lapsteelguitar.com/awsumcart.asp?itemcode=lap_other_5[url]
P.S. - Sorry for the link problem. I don't why I sometimes have this problem. It's really annoying and trying to fix them doesn't work! |
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jedistar
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 212
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Spud1950
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 610
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jeff mercer
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Jedistar,
Mugwumps is generally pretty reliable, but they're a ways off with the dates of the Aloha Ukulele Mfg Co.
That company incorporated ( in Honolulu ) in 1917- not 1911- and dissolved in 1935- not 1920.
I have a super-flamey Koa Hawaiian guitar from the original Aloha company, plus two ukes. Really gorgeous, high quality stuff !
The mainland based Aloha Publishing & Musical Instrument Co. incorporated the same year the original Hawaiian company closed down, & they were retailers, not manufacturers, outsourcing Lap Steels & Amps from other makers, generally student-grade stuff.
Hope this helps !
Cheers, Jeff |
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jedistar
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 212
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| jeff mercer wrote: | Jedistar,
Mugwumps is generally pretty reliable, but they're a ways off with the dates of the Aloha Ukulele Mfg Co.
That company incorporated ( in Honolulu ) in 1917- not 1911- and dissolved in 1935- not 1920.
I have a super-flamey Koa Hawaiian guitar from the original Aloha company, plus two ukes. Really gorgeous, high quality stuff !
The mainland based Aloha Publishing & Musical Instrument Co. incorporated the same year the original Hawaiian company closed down, & they were retailers, not manufacturers, outsourcing Lap Steels & Amps from other makers, generally student-grade stuff.
Hope this helps !
Cheers, Jeff |
Jeff - definitely helps thanks.. CAn u pls email me some pics of that guitar - especially with close ups of label and headstock logo...
paul@jedistar.com
I note at this site http://kamakamania.hp.infoseek.co.jp/aloha.htm
there appears to be a range of aloha ukes up until the 1970s all with the same or very similar headstock logos. I am wondering whether the mainland company actually bought the rights to the name in 1935 - very coincidental.. |
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jedistar
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 212
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 8:53 am Post subject: |
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Well here is the first draft of the -page...
http://www.jedistar.com/aloha.htm
very keen for pics of a pre 1935 Hawaiin Aloha guitar (head + label especially) if anyone has one!!
cheers
paul |
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Spud1950
Joined: 04 Nov 2007
Posts: 610
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| Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | A confounding issue is that very similar headstock logos are seen on a range of instruments claiming to be from 1920 to 1973 |
Those are not really company logos per se . It's a depiction of the Hawaiian Royal Family crest, which has appeared on many Hawaiian made or Hawaiian related items produced by many different companies.Here's an example of an actual royal crest.
http://i.pbase.com/g6/58/673958/2/77517768.zKYwCqlo.jpg |
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jeff mercer
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, Paul & Spud,
In the case of an instrument actually made by the original Hawaiian "Aloha Ukulele Mfg. Co.", I guess technically it IS a company logo.
I've no idea what they thought of other builders using an Aloha label ( inc. Chang, Summers & Kamaka ) during the same period ?
What will tell you if you have a "real" Aloha is a wood-burned stamp inside the instrument that says "TABU-MADE IN HAWAII", usually- but not always- accompanied by the cursive signature 'AKAI'
Akai was the psuedonym used by Alohas' "master builder", a Chinese/Hawaiian whose name escapes me at the moment 
You can see the TABU & AKAI stamp in the link that Paul provided. It's stamped inside both my uke & my Hawaiian guitar, but not in my 30's Aloha-labelled Kamaka Pineapple uke, as a.) Kamaka did'nt use it, & b.) Akai did'nt build it !
To see a pic of my Aloha/Akai guitar, google Fleamarket Music, go to Collectors Uke Yak, hit Search the Yak, & type in Akai guitar, & it will come up..hopefully ! Sorry for the convoluted directions, but I can't post pics at the moment 
Cheers, guys
Jeff. |
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I don't how I managed to get them reversed, but now I'll watch out for that!