Sopranino ukulele

Alternate name(s)

Ukette
Toy ukulele

Date1950-1970 ca.

Place MadeBridgeport, Connecticut, United States, North America

ModelCarnival Varsity

Serial No.none

SignedPrinted in red ink on head: CARNIVAL
MarkingsPrinted in red ink on top: VARSITY
Printed in reverse with black ink in pennant on top: STAMFORD
Printed in reverse with black ink in pennant on top: ILLINOIS
Printed in reverse with red ink in pennant on top: TEXAS
Printed in reverse with red ink in pennant on top: CORNELL
DescriptionStringing: four red nylon strings
Soundboard: ivory plastic; printed in red and black with images of university pennants, 1920s car with three young men (one holding a bullhorn and another a ukulele) and a woman, and a boy in a large fur coat playing a ukulele and singing
Back: black and white marbleized plastic; slightly arched
Ribs: black and white marbleized plastic; integral with back
Head: black and white marbleized plastic with ivory plastic face; red and black printed cartoon of man playing a ukulele and singing, surrounded by notes and a red heart
Neck: black and white marbleized plastic; integral with head and body
Heel cap: none; injection molding mark on back of neck heel
Binding: none
Fingerboard: ivory; 12 frets integral with fingerboard; red printed dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets
Nut: ivory plastic, integral with head face
Bridge: ivory plastic; integral with top, saddle integral with bridge; string balls fit into recesses at end of bridge
Tuners: four ivory plastic
Rosette: elevated ring, integral with top
Lacquer: none
Linings: none
Neck block: none
End block: none
Top bracing: none
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 527 mm (20-15/16″)
Back length: 232 mm (9-1/4″)
Upper bout width: 116 mm (4-7/8″)
Waist width: 87 mm (3-25/32″)
Lower bout width: 150 mm (6-5/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 46 mm (2″)
Rib height, at waist: 52 mm (2″)
Rib height, at end block: 51 mm (2″)
Head length: 114 mm (4-11/16″)
Head width, top: 57 mm (2-7/16″)
Head width, bottom: 43 mm (1-25/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 178 mm (6-31/32″)
Neck width, nut: 33 mm (1-3/8″)
Neck width, heel: 44 mm (1-13/16″)
Soundhole diameter: 44 mm (1-21/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 351 mm (13-25/32″)

Credit LinePaul and Jean Christian Collection

Object number11253

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