circa 1940 Silvertone archtop

[tman]

Hello, I wanted to make an offer on this silvertone guitar, but have no idea what they are or how much they are worth. The owner says it from the 1940's and all he can find in the sound hole is L4. From the research that I've found, it's looked exactly like an Silvertone Aritocrat but it's an acoustic, not electric. Please help with any information and value.
Thanks
Tman

[Spud1950]

Wow,what a cool guitar!It's not 1940's,it's 1950s. I found it in the 1955 Sears/Silvertone catalog in the Vintaxe collection. Exact same guitar. It's listed as model K0674L, "Our Best Spanish Arched Guitar".Original cost was $59.50. Definitely a Kay made guitar. For the 1950s,the collection only has the 1950,1955,1957 and 1958 editions.It doesn't appear in the 1950 edition and it's not in the 1957 edition,so dating it to the early to mid 1950's seems pretty accurate. Value wise, I can only tell you is that I've seen a lot of similar 1950's Kay branded guitars sell for around $300-$350. The Silvertone version might go a little higher because of the cool celluloid overlay on the peg head with the classic Silvertone crest. People really like the look of those,and the crest on the pick guard. Has he given you any idea of what he's looking to get for it?

[tman]

[tman]

I've contacted the man who sell the guitar, he said, he had it appraised for $700 and looking for $500. Is there any silvertone acoustic guitar that valued that high, in any era?

Tman

[Spud1950]

Showing me an actual appraisal certificate from a recognized and respected expert such as George Gruhn is the only way I'd believe that. $700 is dreaming, $500 is a stretch. I wouldn't pay more then $400, but someone who absolutely must have it might bite. Like I said,other then the Silvertone specific cosmetic touches,it's no different then similar Kay models you can find in the same nice condition for $300-$350, sometimes even less.

[ighut]

I agree totally. It would have to play and sound like anything but a Silvertone to be worth anywhere near that to me.

[NOMR]

Very nice guitar