Soprano ukulele
Maker
Mario Maccaferri
Distributor
Grossman Music Corp.
Date1951
Place MadeNew York, New York, United States, North America
Place DistributedCleveland, Ohio, United States, North America
ModelIslander Uke (combination)
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted in brown ink on head: [figure of hula-girl] / ISLANDER / PATENTS PEND. / [Crown over shield divided into four section, the upper right corner with “M”, the lower right corner with eighth note, sixteenth note, and thirty-second note, a rod diagonally through other two corners, with banner below reading “SUMMUS PERSTO”] / DESIGNED BY / MACCAFERRIMarkingsRemains of sticker on upper bass bout of top, originally reading “STYRON”. Now missing.
DescriptionThe Islander Uke was the first of Mario Maccaferri's Styron (plastic) stringed instruments. This example was purchased new by Arne B. Larson (who lived in Brookings, South Dakota, at that time) from Grossman Music Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, and shipped directly from the factory in 1951, two years after the model was introduced. The Islander Uke was sold individually or as part of an Islander Uke Combination that included the Chord Master (a device attached to the neck with rubber bands, which automatically stopped chords with the press of a button). The Islander Uke received an early boost from Arthur Godfrey, a radio and television star who sometimes played ukulele on his shows. Godfrey referred to the Islander as a "very good instrument that costs only $5.95," causing demand for the instrument to flourish, particularly among amateurs who wanted to participate in the craze for Hawaiian music with a minimal investment of money and practice time. In 1953, Macceferri followed up on the simply made Islander with more sophisticated Styron guitars that he intended to be high quality, affordable substitutes for wooden instruments.
Mint condition with all original parts and sales ephemera. Purchased new by Arne B. Larson.
This Islander Uke was sold to Arne B. Larson for $3.30, plus $.39 shipping, in 1951 by Grossman Music Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, shipped direct from the factory. The original invoice is in the Larson Music files.
The motto “SUMMUS PERSTO” means “I endure/persevere/last/persist as the greatest/best/developed to the highest degree/ perfect/most distinguished for excellence/ foremost of its kind”
The Islander Uke is covered by U. S. Patents 2,597,154, filed March 15, 1950, awarded May 20, 1952; 2,614,448 filed May 15, 1952, awarded October 21, 1952; 2,649,828 filed July 3, 1950, awarded August 25, 1953. The Chord Master is covered by U. S. Patent 2,669,151, filed April 10, 1951, awarded February 16, 1954. See file of SA-306.
The company name was changed to Mastro Industries in 1964.
Stringing: four nylon strings
Soundboard: ivory Styron
Back: dark red and black marbleized (Rosewood) Styron
Ribs: dark red and black marbleized (Rosewood) Styron; integral with back
Head: dark red and black marbleized (Rosewood) Styron with ivory Styron face
Neck: dark red and black marbleized (Rosewood) Styron; integral with head and body
Heel cap: none; injection molding mark on back of neck heel
Binding: none
Fingerboard: white, dark red, and black marbleized (Rosewood) Styron; 13 silver Styron frets (including one at nut); silver Styron dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12thfrets, gradually smaller toward high end of fingerboard
Nut: white, dark red, and black marbleized (Rosewood) Styron
Bridge: dark red and black marbleized Styron with ivory (Rosewood) Styron saddle; string balls fit into recesses at end of bridge
Tuners: four nickel-plated steel tension tuners with ivory Styron heads
Rosette: black Styron ring
Lacquer: none
Linings: none
Neck block: none
End block: none
Top bracing: 8 spruce fan braces integral with top
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 532 mm (20-15/16″)
Back length: 235 mm (9-1/4″)
Upper bout width: 124 mm (4-7/8″)
Waist width: 96 mm (3-25/32″)
Lower bout width: 160 mm (6-5/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 51 mm (2″)
Rib height, at waist: 51 mm (2″)
Rib height, at end block: 51 mm (2″)
Head length: 119 mm (4-11/16″)
Head width, top: 62 mm (2-7/16″)
Head width, bottom: 45 mm (1-25/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 177 mm (6-31/32″)
Neck width, nut: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Neck width, heel: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Soundhole length: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 350 mm (13-25/32″)
Credit LineArne B. Larson Estate
Object number10926
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