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Soprano ukulele
Maker: Harmony Company
Trade Name: Supertone (trade name of Sears, Roebuck & Co.)
Distributor: Sears, Roebuck & Co. (distributor)
Date: 1915-1920 ca.
Place Made:Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America
Model: Supertone
Serial No: none
SignedFragmentary printed label, found loose inside instrument, now in catalog file: [SUPER]TONE [lettering over five-line staff] / [UK]ULELE / Style No. / [Guaranteed] for One Year Ag[ainst] / [Defect] in Workmanship [and] / Material
MarkingsWritten in black marker below back button: Steve
DescriptionThis is one of the earliest known forms of Supertone ukulele, pre-dating 1920.
Stringing: four gut strings
Soundboard: one-piece mahogany
Back: one-piece, slab-cut mahogany
Sides: two-piece mahogany; mahogany end graft, the top wider
Head: mahogany; decorative cut outline
Neck: mahogany; integral with head; heel sides concave
Heel cap: none; back button extends over neck heel
Binding: none
Fretboard: integral with neck; 12 nickel-silver frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: mahogany; integral saddle
Tuners: missing
Rosette: two thin birch strips, set in from soundhole edge and with space between each
Finish: clear
Linings: kerfed birch
Neck block: birch with slightly beveled edges
End block: birch with slightly beveled edges
Top braces: birch with tapered ends, one each above and below soundhole
Back braces: one birch brace in lower bout, now missing
Stringing: four gut strings
Soundboard: one-piece mahogany
Back: one-piece, slab-cut mahogany
Sides: two-piece mahogany; mahogany end graft, the top wider
Head: mahogany; decorative cut outline
Neck: mahogany; integral with head; heel sides concave
Heel cap: none; back button extends over neck heel
Binding: none
Fretboard: integral with neck; 12 nickel-silver frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: mahogany; integral saddle
Tuners: missing
Rosette: two thin birch strips, set in from soundhole edge and with space between each
Finish: clear
Linings: kerfed birch
Neck block: birch with slightly beveled edges
End block: birch with slightly beveled edges
Top braces: birch with tapered ends, one each above and below soundhole
Back braces: one birch brace in lower bout, now missing
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 535 mm (20-15/16″)
Back length: 231 mm (9-9/32″)
Upper bout width: 124 mm (4-19/32″)
Waist width: 94 mm (3-1/2″)
Lower bout width: 157 mm (6″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 50 mm (1-15/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 55 mm (2-1/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 59 mm (2-1/4″)
Head length: 177 mm (5-1/8″)
Head width, top: 49 mm (2-13/32″)
Head width, bottom: 47 mm (2″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 167 mm (6-9/16″)
Neck width, nut: 34 mm (1-11/32″)
Neck width, heel: 44 mm (1-27/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 43 mm (1-27/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 335 mm (13-1/16″)
Back length: 231 mm (9-9/32″)
Upper bout width: 124 mm (4-19/32″)
Waist width: 94 mm (3-1/2″)
Lower bout width: 157 mm (6″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 50 mm (1-15/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 55 mm (2-1/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 59 mm (2-1/4″)
Head length: 177 mm (5-1/8″)
Head width, top: 49 mm (2-13/32″)
Head width, bottom: 47 mm (2″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 167 mm (6-9/16″)
Neck width, nut: 34 mm (1-11/32″)
Neck width, heel: 44 mm (1-27/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 43 mm (1-27/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 335 mm (13-1/16″)
Terms
Credit Line: Gift of Steve Amundson, 2006
Not on view
Object number: 14140