eBay Auction has Interesting Photos

Al Gershen · Post by **Al Gershen** » 8 Jul 2000 7:34 am

Hi Group:

A current eBay auction of some old 1948 photos of a group called the Texas Radio Pedal Steel Guitar Cowboy Band is certainly worth taking a peek at.

It looks like the eBay seller's description of the guitar as a "pedal" steel guitar is in error. There weren't very many pedal steel guitars around in 1948 except for the 1st generation Gibson Electraharp and possible the Harlin Brothers Multi-Kord.

Do you recognize the musicians?

What type of steel guitar is the steel player playing? It looks like a single neck, on a stand, with three pickups. Very unusual indeed for the period.

The URL link is http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=373910057

Please post your comments here.

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Regards,
Al Gershen
Grants Pass, Oregon. USA
Fender 1000 (1957),
Fender PS 210 (1972) &
Gibson Electraharp EH-820
(1962)
Pictures of PS 210 &
EH-820 at http://www.rvi.net/~aldg

[This message was edited by Al Gershen on 08 July 2000 at 08:37 AM.][This message was edited by Al Gershen on 08 July 2000 at 08:38 AM.]

Rich Young · Post by **Rich Young** » 8 Jul 2000 8:16 am

I just bought an Ernest Tubb album and on the back is a picture of the band playing at the Opry, with the steel player using a stand like that. I also saw one in a music store here in town. That's the only time I've seen one, though.
I have no idea on what the guitar is, but it does look interesting!

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 8 Jul 2000 1:51 pm

Al: I think that's three control knobs you see, awkwardly placed as they often were on instruments of the period. The single pickup looks like a Valco. Can't be sure of the instrument from this picture, but the knobs also look like typical Valco style. Three control knobs is something most often found on Gibsons.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 9 Jul 2000 7:50 am

If I had to make a guess, I'd guess that the steel player is using a Magnatone lap steel on a stand. It's more likely a homemade steel guitar, though. It's almost impossible to tell from the angle of the picture.

And I don't know who that is, either. Cool picture, though.

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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars