Soprano ukulele

Date1920-1960 ca.

Place MadeUnited States, North America

Serial No.none

Signednone
DescriptionStringing: four gut or nylon strings
Soundboard: two-piece softwood cut off-the quarter: very wide grain; decorative groove carved in lower bouts around outline, filled with white paint surrounded with four stylized mother-of-pearl leaves, and terminating in two mother-of-pearl flowers
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple
Sides: two-piece, slab-cut maple
Head: light hardwood with open pores; angled head with lobe on treble side reminiscent of Bigsby/Fender head; five holes drilled in lobe, probably for hanging instrument
Neck: light hardwood with open pores; integral with head; neck heel sides with concave curves
Heel cap: none
Binding: light hardwood on top
Fretboard: light hardwood with open pores, extending over top; 12 steel bar frets; white celluloid blocks behind 2nd and 6th frets and in front of 12th fret
Nut: light hardwood
Bridge: dark-brown-varnished maple; integral saddle; strings attached through holes drilled in face and top
Tuners: one-sided hand-made brass worm gear tuner
Rosette: light hardwood-mahogany-light hardwood purfling set in from soundhole edge
Finish: dark brown spray finish, shaded on back and sides
Linings: hardwood, crimped at regular intervals for bending
Neck block: wood, rough cut
End block: light hardwood with open pores; narrow
Top braces: light open-pored hardwood transverse braces with tapered ends above and below soundhole; small wood block in front of end block
Back braces: spruce transverse braces with tapered ends in upper and center bouts; small wood block in front of end block
Other: toothed scraper marks on inside of back and ribs
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 549 mm (20-15/16″)
Back length: 250 mm (9-9/32″)
Upper bout width: 134 mm (4-19/32″)
Waist width: 104 mm (3-1/2″)
Lower bout width: 189 mm (6″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 41 mm (1-15/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 46 mm (2-1/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 46 mm (2-1/4″)
Head length: 128 mm (5-1/8″)
Head width, top: 48 mm (2-13/32″)
Head width, bottom: 53 mm (2″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 171 mm (6-9/16″)
Neck width, nut: 35 mm (1-11/32″)
Neck width, heel: 42 mm (1-27/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 54 mm (1-27/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 338 mm (13-1/16″)
ProvenanceThe donor was given this ukulele by a customer and hung it as decoration on a giant imitation palm tree on the sales counter in his store, Pro Musician’s Outlet, in Clearfield.

Credit LineGift of Lynn Wheelwright, 2009

Object number14361

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