Hawaiian Art Violin Co. Harp Guitar - American Made! Roaring '20s Fun

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Seller: mrm4150 ✉️ (504) 100%, Location: Woodstock, Illinois, US, Ships to: US, Item: 253602486025 Hawaiian Art Violin Co. Harp Guitar - American Made! Roaring '20s Fun. This unusual instrument was made by the Hawaiian Art Violin Company of Jersey City, NJ, c.1922. Weathered shellac finish, 32 strings (a few missing), and not obvious to me as to type of wood used. The instrument looks all original. I don't have any idea how to play this or what kind of music it was used for. The name suggests island music and body the size of a large ukulele does also. I don't believe the term ukulele had yet been coined (the 1920's movie "The Crowd" refers to a modern looking uke as a zither). This instrument also employs aspects of a zither. The flat black back suggests it was intended for table top or lap top play. Predecessor to the lap steel guitar also started in Hawaii! Overall dimensions are 7.5 x 27.5 x 1.5 inches. No case with it, and will require a tuning hammer. Feel free to ask any question. Given its age and uniqueness it is being offered as-is with no returns. Thanks for looking. Some history: the Hawaiian Art Violin, the probable precursor of the ukelin. It can be dated to 1922 from the copyright of an instruction book by Paul F. Richter. Here's a fanciful history from an original Art Violin ad:

The Hawaiian Art Violin was first introduced at the Famous Winter Resorts of the East Coast of Florida. It was received with such widespread enthusiasm, that Tourists, returning from Florida, requested the privilege of demonstrating the instrument in their Home communities. From this idea, our present Advertising Campaign direct from the Factory to the Home, was developed.

  • Condition: Appears totally original

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