This instrument is hard to set a value on since very few Regal archtop guitars have. Come on the market, and those were post-war instruments (1945 to 1960). Also, there is. No demand from collectors for Regal guitars that are not resonator guitars. Harmony guitars database - Information for all Harmony fans.
For many years, we haunted pawnshop, garage sales, and flea markets -- in those days, our standard line was that we collected junk and high end. I have always been interested in low end instruments because, as a blue collar kid, they were much more common in my youth than the good stuff.
We still have quite a lot of this stuff hanging on walls. At some point years ago, we picked up an old Regal -- actually several old Regals, most of which were clearly low end guitars. But we picked up one that seemed a bit better. Basically it has sat in the case ever since -- as a mystery that might be a bit above the floor. We have never studied Regals, and I don't have any reference materials. I thought as an initial attempt to identify and date it, I would post some pictures. All information appreciated.
Thanks, -Tom. Markdemaray wrote:Tom The green Regal logo decal on the headstock of yours was common in the late 30's and early 40's for Regal instruments sold under the Regal brand name. My 12 fret Regal Jumbo-dred was likely made in 1938-40 and has the exact same decal. That same decal also seems to be used on a few models pictured in the 1940 Regal catalog. The Regal name and assets were sold the Harmony Company in 1955 according to Bob Carlin's book, which I believe is much later than that green logo decal was used.
MarkThanks Mark -- that information helps a lot. With google and your label suggestion, it is now clear the guitar was almost certainly 1930s.
That maple binding is pretty unique -- I found it on one guitar that claimed to be 1932, but they did not say how the knew. Definitely from the Harmony factory. How do you know? I know that in the 50s and 60s, there was a production line somewhere in Chicago building cheap solid wood guitars which carried at least these labels (probably a lot more too); Stella, Harmony, Silvertone, and Kay. We had a bunch of these destroyed by flood, and they were taken apart -- the serial numbers all use the same format plus a code for the final label. Best, -Tom 'scuse me.
Was thinking sideways or something. Disregard earlier post. There is a Regal history book that can be found on Amazon.