1936-37 Supro Electric -- Predates any I've seen

[dyyllaann]

I just bought a 1936-37 Supro Electric Lap Steel. The serial number (B600) suggests it's from 1936.

The case, and maybe guitar itself, was manufactured for Gravois Music Shop, where the legendary Mel Bay used to give guitar lessons in the mid-'30s.

From all the research I've done, this is the oldest one I've seen so far.

A little background info: (src: )

Supro debuted in late 1935 when Dobro and National merged, and began selling in catalogs in March of 1936, suggesting that this was one of the first Supros ever built. This explains why I can't find much information on it!

In 1936, after moving from L.A. to Chicago, stopped making them of metal and switched to wood. The single treble-side knob indicates that this is a 1936 model, but it lacks the pick guard, suggesting a 1937.



Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[VintAxe]

Thanks for sharing pictures of your steel with us dyyllaann. If your date is correct, it predates any steels I know about. Steels first show up in my literature in 1938, unfortunately I have no Supro literature that is this early.

Have you checked with the guys at the Steel Guitar Forum?

[Spud1950]

The Rickenbacker A-22 "frying pan" was the first electric lap steel. It was first sold in 1932. Many consider it to be the first true electric guitar of any kind to be mass marketed.





With the introduction of the A-22, other companies also made electric steels well before 1938.

"The "frying pan" was the first electric lap steel guitar ever produced. George Beauchamp created the instrument in 1931, and it was subsequently manufactured by Rickenbacker Electro. The instrument—officially the model A-22—earned its nickname because its circular body and long neck make it resemble a frying pan.

It was designed to cash in on the popularity of Hawaiian music in the 1930s. The instrument was made of cast aluminum, and featured a pickup that incorporated a pair of horseshoe magnets that arched over the strings. Beauchamp and machinist Adolph Rickenbacker began selling the Frying Pan in 1932, but Beauchamp was not awarded a patent for his idea until 1937, which allowed other guitar companies to produce electric guitars in the same period."

[dyyllaann]

Wasn't Rickenbacker run by Valco in 1932?

[Spud1950]

Rickenbacker, Dobro and Valco all had their begginings tied to the National String Instrument Corporation, but the Valco company didn't exist until 1942. There's no Valco-Rickenbacker connection.

Rickenbacker history



Valco history

[dyyllaann]

That's right, I was thinking Valco, not National...

Any way -- anyone have an idea on what this thing could be worth?