Images(17)

Polk-a-lay-lee

ALTERNATE NAME(S)

Baritone ukulele

Maker Petersen Products

Date1960 ca.

Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America

ModelPolk-a-lay-lee Model 100 Walnut finish

Serial No.none

SignedSilkscreened in gold on head extension: [flower] Polk-a-lay-lee [floral design]
Silkscreened in gold on back of head: ©PETERSEN PROD. / PATS. PEND.
Markingsnone
DescriptionProduced as a marketing promotion by Polk Brothers, a discount electronics and appliance chain in Chicago. Similar to the Kooky ukes marketed by Swaggerty Specialities Co., San Clemente, California, in the 1950s and 1960s.

Ukulele of modified form with pentagonal body and long hook-shaped head
Stringing: four nylon strings
Soundboard: three-ply maple plywood; strings recessed into top
Back: three-ply maple plywood
Ribs: three-ply maple plywood; pine blocks at all corners
Head and neck: pine
Heel cap: none; edge of back slightly rounded at upper edge
Binding: none
Fingerboard: red plastic; curved extension on treble side, but without frets; 13 integral frets, including a 0-fret; recessed white-painted dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 10th frets, not including 0-fret
Nut: red plastic; integral with fingerboard; two red plastic string guides to direct strings to pegbox, which is far up the curved head
Bridge: red plastic with integral saddle, glued to top
Tuners: four red plastic pegs, with large, pentagonal heads
Endpin: red plastic
Rosette: none; eccentric, oval-shaped soundhole
Finish: medium, milky brown
Linings: none
Neck block: pine; ribs discontinue at joint with top block, so that it is visible from the outside of the instrument
End block: none
Top braces: none
Back braces: none
Straps: red synthetic rope neck strap; brown leather strip attached to upper two pegs for hanging
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 1287 mm (52-1/2″)
Back length: 346 mm (13-5/8″)
Upper bout width: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Waist width: 221 mm (8-7/16″)
Lower bout width: 98 mm (3-7/8″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 39 mm (1-17/32″)
Rib height, at waist: 40 mm (1-9/16″)
Rib height, at end block: 41 mm (1-5/8″)
Head length: 727 mm (28-5/8″)
Head width, top: 20 mm (21/32″)
Head width, bottom: 40 mm (1-9/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 208 mm (8-3/16″)
Neck width, nut: 40 mm (1-9/16″)
Neck width, heel: 42 mm (1-21/32″)
Soundhole diameter: maximum width: 104 mm (4-3/32″); maximum height: 40 mm (1-9/16″)
Vibrating string length (0-fret to bridge edge): 460 mm (18-3/32″)

Credit LineGeoffrey Robert Rezek Collection, 2010

Object number14459

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