This is a guitar that someone on another forum is trying to get info on.He was told it was purchased in the 1930s or 1940s. I know there was an an American Orpheum guitar company way back when, so I think someone may be confusing it with that company. I think it's a Japanese made,Orpheus branded guitar.What do you think?
Here's another Orpheus picture I found on the net,but no info on the company.
The VintAxe Guitar Forum
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Orpheus Guitar Info
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That would be Orpheum.The United connection is mentioned here.
"The subject of Orpheum guitars is one of those obscure corners of guitardom awaiting more research, and what has been published is vague and at times contradictory. The Orpheum brand dates back to the late 19th century and is primarily associated with William L. Lange of New York. In the late 1800s, James H. Buckbee was one of the top New York banjo makers. He supplied instruments to other companies, which marketed them under their own house brands. Buckbee sold his business to Lange and William P. Rettberg in 1897, and they introduced the well-respected Orpheum-brand banjos. In around 1921 Lange apparently took over the business and sold both Orpheum and Paramount banjos. When the guitar overtook the banjo in the 1930s, Lange added Paramount guitars to his line. He is reported to have marketed some Orpheum-brand guitars, but this is not certain and nothing is known of them.
Lange weathered the Great Depression but went out of business in 1941 or '42. In 1944 the Orpheum brand name was picked up by New York distributor Maurice Lipsky, who applied it to both guitars and banjos. Most Orpheum guitars I've encountered date from the Lipsky era. In the 1950s, Lipsky marketed Orpheum electric archtops and little Les Paul–sized electric hollow-bodies, which look very much like those made by United (formerly Oscar Schmidt) in Jersey City, the source of many similar Premier guitars sold by Sorkin, Lipsky's competitor at the time. In the early 1960s, Lipsky began to use the Orpheum name on guitars imported from Japan, but the name doesn't seem to have survived beyond the big crash of 1968. In any case, be cautious when purchasing an instrument with the Orpheum brand name."
Harmony also made some guitars that were branded as Orpheum.
I thought of the Bulgarian made guitars,but the brand name is actually spelled Orfeus,not Orpheus.
Whats wierd is that the name on the Orfeus pickups is spelled Orpheus,like on this one.
Most confusing!
"The subject of Orpheum guitars is one of those obscure corners of guitardom awaiting more research, and what has been published is vague and at times contradictory. The Orpheum brand dates back to the late 19th century and is primarily associated with William L. Lange of New York. In the late 1800s, James H. Buckbee was one of the top New York banjo makers. He supplied instruments to other companies, which marketed them under their own house brands. Buckbee sold his business to Lange and William P. Rettberg in 1897, and they introduced the well-respected Orpheum-brand banjos. In around 1921 Lange apparently took over the business and sold both Orpheum and Paramount banjos. When the guitar overtook the banjo in the 1930s, Lange added Paramount guitars to his line. He is reported to have marketed some Orpheum-brand guitars, but this is not certain and nothing is known of them.
Lange weathered the Great Depression but went out of business in 1941 or '42. In 1944 the Orpheum brand name was picked up by New York distributor Maurice Lipsky, who applied it to both guitars and banjos. Most Orpheum guitars I've encountered date from the Lipsky era. In the 1950s, Lipsky marketed Orpheum electric archtops and little Les Paul–sized electric hollow-bodies, which look very much like those made by United (formerly Oscar Schmidt) in Jersey City, the source of many similar Premier guitars sold by Sorkin, Lipsky's competitor at the time. In the early 1960s, Lipsky began to use the Orpheum name on guitars imported from Japan, but the name doesn't seem to have survived beyond the big crash of 1968. In any case, be cautious when purchasing an instrument with the Orpheum brand name."
Harmony also made some guitars that were branded as Orpheum.
I thought of the Bulgarian made guitars,but the brand name is actually spelled Orfeus,not Orpheus.
Whats wierd is that the name on the Orfeus pickups is spelled Orpheus,like on this one.
Most confusing!
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Spud1950 - Posts: 857
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:15 am
Hmm...I wonder how he knows it's an Egmond sub-brand.
That looks quite nice, and everything else I've seen of theirs has been amazingly shoddy! I'm not sure how the company famous for nailing on some of their necks could deal with those finger board inlays
That looks quite nice, and everything else I've seen of theirs has been amazingly shoddy! I'm not sure how the company famous for nailing on some of their necks could deal with those finger board inlays
- Mgeek
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:29 pm
that IS very interesting... especially when you consider the Orpheum/Premier connection... and that Sorkin/Premier imported pieces from Italian and German houses... hmmmm...
Its not just people who are separated by six degrees...
Its not just people who are separated by six degrees...
- Michael Ambrose
- Posts: 453
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: South Bound Brook, NJ
'Orpheus' were a Bulgarian brand of guitar (made under communist rule at the time) during the 60's to the 80's. The name was also spelled 'Orfeus', when it was for domestic sale in Bulgary.
http://jedistar.com/jedistar_vintage_gu ... ing_o2.htm
There is also a made in Japan Orpheus guitar..
http://jedistar.com/jedistar_vintage_gu ... ing_o2.htm
There is also a made in Japan Orpheus guitar..
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jedistar - Posts: 218
- Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:21 am
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
Just found a vintage Orpheus lap-steele guitar. Trying to find information I ran across this thread. On the name at the head stock it clearly says "made in USA". Interesting that there is no information on this "American" guitar company. I can send pictures if you give me an address. Jer
- beaz750
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:17 pm
- Location: EL Sobrante
Hi, I was looking for some information for the Orfeus Guitar, because i have one of them and i want to know something about it.
The Guitar was my uncle, and i want to know their value.
Sorry for my English, I'm spanish.
I put some pictures here:
I appreciate any help.
The Guitar was my uncle, and i want to know their value.
Sorry for my English, I'm spanish.
I put some pictures here:
I appreciate any help.
- atila-kun
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:13 am
14 posts
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