Guitar
Distributor
William Tonk & Brother Company
also known as Tonk Brothers Company
Date1942 ca.
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
ModelCustom Jumbo
Serial No.None
SignedNickel-plated and black-painted oval metal plaque pined to back of head with two brass pins: THE MARK OF BETTER INSTRUMENTS / TRADE MARK / Regal [logo] / MADE BY / REGAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CO. / CHICAGOMarkingsWritten in black pencil on inside of back: XDescriptionThis exquisite Regal archtop guitar was custom made around 1942 for Paul Moennig, the president of Tonk Bros., a major instrument distributor. It was possibly a sample highlighting the best of their work, or a gift for doing business with Regal. Its most notable, unusual feature is the marquetry neck. Stringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: arched, two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain narrowing toward the edges
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: prominent, broad curl descending from center joint; has pitch flecks; single black-stained hardwood strip at joint
Sides: two-piece, quarter-cut maple with narrow curl angled to right; lower sides divided by rosewood graft surrounded on each side by purfling, slightly wider at top than back, surrounded on each side by black wood strips
Head: multiple laminated strips of rosewood and light, red, and black angled hardwood marquetry strips with rosewood veneered face inlaid with abstract floral / foliate green abalone decoration; integral with neck; face bound in ivory celluloid with trim comprised of alternating blocks of ivory and black celluloid
Neck: multiple laminated strips of rosewood and light, red, and black angled hardwood marquetry strips; integral with head
Heel cap: ivory celluloid with trim comprised of alternating blocks of ivory and black celluloid, a layer of ivory a celluloid, and a second layer of alternating blocks of ivory and black celluloid; set in from back
Binding: ivory celluloid; trim comprised of two layers of alternating angled ivory and black block trim with ivory strip in between on top, back, and sides
Fingerboard: ebony bound in ivory celluloid with trim comprised of alternating blocks of ivory and black celluloid; 20 nickel-silver T-frets; rectangular pearloid markers with abstract engraved and ink-filled decorative designs behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and 15th frets
Nut: bone; later; original preserved separately
Bridge: two-piece ebony with gold-plated screws for height adjustment
Tailpiece: gold-painted brass trapeze secured to lower rib with three gold-plated steel domed, Philips' head screws
Tuners: six individual rose gold-plated worm-gear machine tuners with decoratively engraved heads and plates
Endpin: missing
Soundholes: f-holes; the upper and lower wings joined to top
Pick guard: translucent gold and dark brown imitation-tortoise-shell celluloid bound in ivory celluloid; trim comprised of two layers of alternating angled ivory and black block trim with ivory strip in between, mounted on guitar with gold-over-nickel plated brass metal brackets and two gold-plated steel slot-head screws; lower face of pickguard engraved in floral / foliate design, filled with copper paint, and inlaid with white, red, green, aqua, and blue rhinestones
Lacquer: dark red-brown sunburst
Linings: kerfed maple
Neck block: light hardwood with chamfered corners
End block: light hardwood with chamfered corners
Top bracing: spruce X-brace, the center reinforced with white canvas
Grafts: spruce along center top and back jointsDimensionsTotal guitar length: 1035 mm (40-3/4″)
Back length: 504 mm (19-27/32″)
Upper bout width: 282 mm (11-3/32″)
Waist width: 225 mm (8-7/8″)
Lower bout width: 400 mm (15-3/4″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 99 mm (3-29/32″)
Rib height, at waist: 99 mm (3-29/32″)
Rib height, at end block: 99 mm (3-29/32″)
Head length: 173 mm (6-13/16″)
Head width, top: 80 mm (3-5/32″)
Head width, bottom: 58 mm (2-9/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 359 mm (14-1/8″)
Neck width, nut: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Neck width, heel: 57 mm (2-1/4″)
Soundhole length: 129 mm (5-3/32")
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 643 mm (25-5/16″); low E: 644 mm (2-11/325″)
Scale length: 642 mm (25-9/16")ProvenanceMade for and presented to President of Tonk Bros., Inc., Paul H. Moennig (d. 1972), about 1942.
Credit LineGift of Bob Carlin, 2022
Object number15680
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