On Sunday, 18th April, 2004, I was given this beautiful old guitar.

My first impulse was to get onto the internet to try and locate some information about the manufacturer, as well as to find out as much as I could about it's history.

To my dismay, I found absolutely no information anywhere. This guitar is a mystery.

Here's what I do know:

• It was purchased in Melbourne, Australia during the mid 1920's to early 1930's
• The sound board is either spruce or pine
• The back and sides are rosewood
• The neck is probably stained Spanish cedar
• The bridge is ebony
• The inlay around the sound hole is probably a New Zealand shell called pava(?). (This information came from the previous owner)
• There are no markings, date or signature anywhere inside the guitar
• The bracing on the underneath of the sound board is ladder bracing
• The tuning pegs are metal
• The bridge has been bolted on - this was done in about 1990

When looking at it, the guitar appears to be a steel string guitar, but the ladder bracing is normally used with nylon string guitars.

The above information was provided by a luthier.

More information from helpful friends.

The dimensions:

• From headstock tip to body end it measures 3ft 1-1/2inches (950mm)
• Bottom sound chamber width 1ft 2inches (355mm)
• Bottom sound chamber depth 3-15/16inches (100mm)
• Sound chamber waist width 8inches (200mm)
• Sound chamber waist depth 4-3/16inches (106mm)
• Top sound chamber width 10 1/2inches (265mm)
• Top sound chamber depth 3-7/8inches (98mm)
• Sound hole diamenter 3 1/2inches (90mm)
• Neck from nut to sound hole 1ft 4-1/2inches (420mm)
• Neck width at sound hole 2-7/16inches (62mm)
• Neck width at body join 2-1/4inches (58mm). 12 frets to the body
• Neck width at nut 1-7/8inches (47mm)
• It also has a strikingly arched back
• Please note that all measurements are approximate

The guitar sounds amazing. It has some cracks on the sound board and back, but the sound is clear and mellow. Each note, when playing chords, rings clear and true and has its own individual space. It is easy to play and feels good.

I hope the following photos will be clear enough. If anyone has any information about this guitar would they please me. I have a lot more photos from different angles etc, if you would like to see them.