There has to be an interesting story here!I'm 99% sure of my conclusions below (it may be some time before I can obtain better photos).
This is the first time we have both an intact instrument along with a record of the original owner from a historical postcard (see Historical Photos). The postcard, which depicts two gentlemen playing the harp guitar and a harp mandolin, was tucked in the original case – which contained the guitar and an empty section for the missing "matching" mandolin!
The identification was a very tough call because at this point I only have these less-than-ideal images taken by researcher Ben Elder during a quick visit with the owner, musician and historian Bob Brozman.
Initially, the postcard seemed to be of a completely different instrument, as the color looked wrong – but this is true on many old black & white photos of guitars (Ben explained how the original orthochromatic film was missing, and/or sensitive to, certain colors of the spectrum – so it’s hard to tell if a shiny guitar top was spruce, mahogany or black finish [a photography expert could explain this better than I]. The first panchromatic films [sensitive to light of all colors] were made in 1906, although they did not become widely available for amateur use until the 1930s).
What gave it away immediately was the bass headstock – a completely new shape (see Harp Guitar Evolution). Despite the very dark shadow hiding the real instrument’s headstock, it must be the same - and the two geared tuners sticking out like buck teeth from the top again give it away.
All the other discernible features are identical. The pickguard is tricky, as it is an inlaid piece the same color as the top – so it disappears completely in the old b&w photo. Enhanced in Photoshop, I was just able to make out a highlight which corresponds to the pearl inlay.
The postcard itself does not include a copyright date or caption. It was postmarked August 3, 1956, from Pendleton, Oregon (but is probably circa ‘teens or ‘twenties). Addressed to one Rev. E.S. Mathews at 506 Park Ave. Galena, Illinois, it contained the rather cryptic message "Dear all, Everybody dead! We are __ Love, your Sis."
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