Montgomery Wards Gibson?

[adot45]

Would anyone have any thoughts about what this guitar might be? The owner tells me his Father purchased it in 1930 ~ 1931. It has numbers visible through one F hole, and a Montgomery Wards sticker is visible through the other F hole. I should mention that the numbers don't follow any found at the Gibson site. The tuning pegs say GROVER on them. Thanks for any information.

[theehman]

I don't think it's a Gibson. The neck inlays are very un-Gibson-like.

[cheepaxes]

I'm far from positive but I think Harmony and/or Kay may have been making the guitars that Wards sold in the '30s. Shouldn't be too difficult to find out for sure.

-Scott

[adot45]

Thank You for your response PickerAUS and others for interest as well. I started to help my friend figure out what this guitar might be without any notion or idea what it might be. It's been very interesting and I've spent hours and hours on the internet looking at pictures, reading articles, etc. As for right now I have an idea that it is a Recording King which were made by Gibson. Gibson was scrambling as all companies were post depression to keep above water and I see it's a well known fact that they produced whole guitars and guitar bodies for many retailers and mail order houses and even other instrument manufactures. The neck inlays on my friends guitar are very similar to a picture of a 1939 Recording King, actually, they are identical, even the inlays on the top piece are exactly the same. As for now, I am pursuing this as the guitar being a Recording King and will see where that takes me. Thanks to all who showed an interest.

[PickerAUS]

Cheepaxes is probably right.
Here are some pics of a 1930s Marwin archtop made by Harmony. Judge for yourself...




Same pickguard and stringholder. Body binding matches somewhat. Headstock is vaguely similar. Can't tell from the different angles.

[PickerAUS]

[adot45]

Thank's for your thoughts on this, here is what I am more inclined to go with. My friend's unkown guitar on the left and a 1938 Recording King on the right.

[jeff mercer]

See if you can get your hands on a copy of "The Steve Howe Guitar Collection", mate- I assume it's still in print..
A guitar identical to your friends is pictured on p.28, & is identified as a Gibson-made FDH..or Francis,Day & Hunter ( you'll notice the one in the book has different fingerboard inlays, as Howe explains he sent it to Gibson for a new f/board, refinish etc, but its otherwise identical.)
The book states that Gibson made FDH guitars between 1934 to 1942.
Hope this helps..nice guitar !

[adot45]

Thank You very much for your input, we appreciate it.

[adot45]

I have since found a picture of a 1937 Recording King and they are nearly identical. My friends has the fancy trim around the body and headpiece but check the fingerboard and pick guard. Thanks to all who helped. Here is a picture of it.