National Chicagoian 50's ??

[Matt Yanzen]

Hi all !!

I'm a newbie in here (and in fact, a newbie to lap steel playing as well... bought a David Porthouse LS last year and have been hooked ever since)...

I have a small Q to ask y'all... I'm about to buy a National Chicagoian off some American guy on the web...

Everything seems fine, except for the National logo on the headstock ? I've seen them with the regular diamond shaped logo's and the art deco style dagger type, but the one he's got for sale has a totally diff one...

I attached a picture of the headstock.

Can any1 verify the authenticity of this LS guitar ?

I for one have never seen one with this type of logo...

Many thanks in advance,

Cheers,
Matt.

[bazzrd9th]

Hi Matt
I'm sure the logo is OK
In the forties and fifties these lap steels could have been made by various companies, Supro, Valco,Silvertone, Harmony etc. If it's a national made one made by Valco there should be a metal plate on the back of the head with a number on it, which will tell you the date. These later MOTS 'mother of toilet seat' variations are a nightmare to assign a maker to as it was a huge melting pot in the fifties with a lot of makers making guitars for each other. I think yours is a national valco. The biggest maker of musical instruments of all was Harmony, who made tens of thousands of guitars, mandolins, banjos, lap steels and anything in between for other companies. The quality of everyday instruments in the fifties wasn't the best. The best ones were great but there was a lot of dross. National instruments of this period are not as desirable as the fantastic deco models of the thirties and early forties though still well thought of.
Type in 'national chicagoian' into your serach engine (google etc) and click on 'images for national chicagoian. There are dozens of variations to be found.

I have a 10 string National Valco 'Alkire' Mots from 1953 in similar colours for sale. If this deal falls through let me know. I can post some pics on the forum.
Cheers
Barry

[Matt Yanzen]

Hey Barry !

Many, many thx for your reply & all the information, 'preciated BIG time !!!
Yes, it has a metal plate w/ a serial # X-16252 on the back

I just Googled the instrument you have for sale, wow !!! Beautiful ! But 10 strings is way over my head at this point !
I've still a lot to learn on 6 Been playing Fender strats and such for the last 25 years & only started Lap Steel late last year...
After listening to & totally adoring David Lindley from early childhood, holding Jackson Browne's Running On Empty

I bought one from David Porthouse in the UK & totally love it, great sounding instrument, even not amplified !

So, I bought the National for $350 (he wanted $450, but I gotta take customs & taxes in mind...), with a nice beaten down case haha...

Again, many thx & if you'd like, I'll post some pix when the thingie has arrived !

Btw. I'd love to see some pix of your Alkire !!

Best wishes,
Cheers,
Matt/The Netherlands.