Knutsen Harp Guitar    

This much-discussed, mysterious and interesting discovery is a left-handed instrument seemingly identical to Chris' own.
Close examination and comparison with HGT10 seems to show the exact same fingerboard inlay (which would be nearly a first for Knutsen!).
Other features, like bass headstock inlay and binding, are washed out in the 1900 photo and all-but-impossible to tell.
The tuners could be explained by the probability of the end of the headstock having cracked off, necessitating new strangely-positioned friction tuners.
What's more, when the 1900 photo is computer enhanced, one can just make out the same label - which features an earlier photograph of the family very similar to the famous JCHS family photograph. 
BUT - Tom Noe and I agree that the binding on the body just doesn't match. No matter how we enhance and study the 1900 photograph, we just can't see the same pattern of light and dark marquetry.
If not for this slight difference in trim, one would think this was the same guitar.
Any thoughts? 
This important and fascinating instrument was purchased by an anonymous Knutsen relative.

hgt17.jpg (10836 bytes)

hgt17full.jpg (52439 bytes)

hgt17head.jpg (27107 bytes)
hgt17body.jpg (38406 bytes)

knutsenfamily2.jpg (52057 bytes)

hgt17headback.jpg (19296 bytes)

Click on a picture to enlarge
(images copyright Chris Wilhelm & Gregg Miner)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGT17

                 Category

Tacoma Harp Guitars (Port Townsend built)

                 Body Style

"Symphony" 

                 Current or last known owner

anonymous

              Year (approx)

1898-1900

                 Label

"Family portrait" & "THE ONE-ARM HARP GUITAR.
Patented United States, England and Canada.
Infringements will be prosecuted to the fullest extant."

                 Label Code PT5 & PT7

                 Courses / Strings

18 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass, 7 treble

                 Frets

?

                 Scale length unknown
                 Neck Joint unknown

Woods

Top

spruce?

Back & Sides

unknown

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

unknown
Headstock veneer unknown

Binding, trim

Top

multi-colored wood, ivoroid

Back

ivoroid

Fingerboard

ivoroid

Headstock(s)

bass: ivoroid
Soundhole 3 rings of multi-colored wood purfling

                 Inlay

fancy pearl fret markers. Extra inlay on bass headstock. Inlaid wood stripe on back of neck.

                 Pickguard

none

                 Comments

 

 

To Harp Guitars

Home

To Next Instrument

[Biographical] [Instruments] [Historical Photos]
[
Credits] [FAQ] [Bibliography] [Updates] [Links] [Contact]
[
Home (Knutsen Archives)] [Home (Harpguitars.net)

All Site Contents Copyright © Gregg Miner, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,2006,2007,2008. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright and Fair Use of material and use of images: See Copyright and Fair Use policy.