Stella/Harmony H1105 Grand Concert Acoustic Guitar

Here's a quick little post about a 1949 Stella flat top acoustic guitar.  This guitar was actually made by Harmony as they had bought Stella in 1940.  They retained the Stella name on many of their instruments, but the builds were clearly Harmony.

This is an all birch barker that shows its age with a bunch of nicks, scratches and dings.  Surprisingly, it plays pretty well.  I just changed out the tuners as the last ones were not particularly cooperative.  This was apparently the first model that Harmony made after they bought Stella.  With the 1949 date on this one we can see that this guitar had a pretty good run of production.  Harmony did a pretty good job dating their products.  It is a bit easier nailing down more exact dates than it is with Kay.

Real fun guitar to play.

during World War II, the tailpieces on these were made out of wood as all metal production went towards the war effort.  Kind of makes you wonder who was making the guitars in the Chicago factories during wartime.

Well there's something you don't see very much of any more - a Made in USA stamp.  One of the great things about guitars and guitar production is that guitars are one of the few things that are actually still made in this country. 

The name -Valentrina- is written in pencil.  A "V" is also etched into the top of the guitar.  Makes you think if Mr or Mrs Valentrina remember owning this instrument or if he or she ever wonders where it might be.  As I have stated before, the journey these instruments can take really fascinates me.  I can't help but wonder where this guitar started its life.