Soprano ukulele
Maker
Harmony Company
Trade Name
Supertone
(trade name of Sears, Roebuck & Co.)
Distributor
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
(distributor)
Date1920-1930 ca.
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
ModelSupertone Ukulele Style No. 456
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label with single line border, the style number stamped in purple ink: SUPERTONE [lettering over five-line staff] / UKULELE / Style No. 456 / Guaranteed for One Year Against / Defect in Workmanship and / Material.MarkingsPencil line on inside of top marking longitudinal center positionDescriptionStringing: four gut stringsSoundboard: one-piece mahogany with slight, narrow curl
Back: one-piece mahogany with slight, narrow curl
Sides: two-piece mahogany with narrow curl
Head: mahogany; shield-shaped
Neck: mahogany; integral with head; heel sides concave
Heel cap: none
Binding: alternating, angled pieces of mahogany and birch on top, surrounded on inside edge of top
Fretboard: integral with neck; 12 brass frets
Nut: dark hardwood
Bridge: mahogany; integral saddle
Tuners: one beech with decoratively turned ring on shaft
Rosette: alternating, angled pieces of mahogany and birch, surrounded on each side by birch strips; birch strip rings on either side of center band, set in from soundhole edge
Finish: dark brown; later shellac finish over original
Linings: birch kerfed on inside
Neck block: mahogany with slightly beveled edges
End block: mahogany with slightly beveled edges
Top braces: spruce with tapered ends above sound hole; light wood brace with low height below soundhole; light wood brace with tapered ends in lower bout
Back braces: one light wood brace in lower bout, now missing
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 522 mm (20-15/16″)
Back length: 234 mm (9-9/32″)
Upper bout width: 122 mm (4-19/32″)
Waist width: 88 mm (3-1/2″)
Lower bout width: 151 mm (6″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 49 mm (1-15/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 56 mm (2-1/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 57 mm (2-1/4″)
Head length: 128 mm (5-1/8″)
Head width, top: 53 mm (2-13/32″)
Head width, bottom: 45 mm (2″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 163 mm (6-9/16″)
Neck width, nut: 34 mm (1-11/32″)
Neck width, heel: 45 mm (1-27/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 43 mm (1-27/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 326 mm (13-1/16″)
Credit LineArne B. Larson Estate
Object number14141
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