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| Back towards the end of WWII, a 10-year-old boy won his section on Sydney radio's 'Amateur Hour', and his father was so proud he went and purchased his son a brand new Dobro Hawaiian guitar from Nicholson's in Sydney. The guitar was used for some time by the boy in his early teens playing in a group who visited the Concorde Repatriation Hospital in Sydney's west, entertaining returned servicemen. However, since those days, the guitar remained unplayed. The boy finally decided, more than 65 years later, to sell his guitar. And here it is! It is a genuine 1-owner, 'pre-war' Regal-made wood-body, square-neck Dobro model 27 in remarkable low-mileage condition. The body is bound front and back (so therefore post 1937), and it has a 12-fret neck, while the 3-segment f-holes indicate a build date of about 1939. The model 27 was discontinued during the war - in 1941 - when all production at both National-Dobro and Regal ceased because the metals used in the manufacture of these guitars were required for the war effort. This guitar has no serial number (see below), which makes exact dating difficult, but there are many details which date it generally to the late 1930s. The top of the headstock, which sometimes carried serial numbers, is stamped "MADE IN USA" - see the close-up photo in the 'more pictures' link below. Interestingly, it is exactly the same as the other pre-war Dobro we have in stock, except for the fact that the tuners are mounted with the buttons facing downwards (like a normal acoustic guitar) and the back is sunburst, rather than being dark stained all over. On the other guitar, the 'Made in USA' is stamped inside the body, rather than on the end of the headstock. Other than that, the two guitars are identical, and would date very close to each other. The Dobro company was experiencing exceptional sales during the early 1930s, so much so that in late 1932, Regal of Chicago was licensed by Dobro® Corporation to produce guitars bearing both the Dobro® and Regal logos for sale east of the Mississippi. According to this licensing agreement, Dobro® Corporation would supply Regal with all the metal parts. Many Regal-made instruments didn’t have serial numbers, which would give a nod to it being Regal-made. The resonator plate has patent #1896484 and is embossed with “Other Pat. Pend.", which also dates the guitar to the mid/late 1930s. The original strip Kluson tuners are still present on this guitar, and are fully functional. Even the strings that were on the guitar when it arrived are over 60 years old - I left them on for the photography session. However, it now has a new set of strings (the originals are now in the case pocket), and I am having a ball bringing the sounds of the 1930s and 1940s to life again. This is the real deal! The original case is now feeling its age, and is crumbling where the clasps attach to the fibre body. It still has the Nicholson's dealer's badge affixed to the green felt interior, and the original pre-war steels and sheet music are still inside the case! (check the 'more pictures' link below). $ not recently valued for the present market but feel free to make a serious offer.
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