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Keech "Long Scale L/A-33" Banjulele with known provenance (1925)
$340
Condition
Used - Good
Description
I am making available a rare 1925-era Keech "Long Scale L/A-33" Banjulele which comes with known provenance.
The instrument is in very nice condition and is playable as-is. It just needs to be tuned.
As for the quick history of this instrument, it was known to have come from a person in Ireland who had owned it since 1927. I have owned it for over 50 years.
For those that know nothing about banjuleles or Keech, I can provide this short historical overview. Alvin D. Keech invented the banjo ukulele, in 1917 or 1918. He trademarked the name "Banjulele" in 1925 and made a large number of them under the Keech name. His instruments exploded in popularity in the 1920’s and 30’s. Given the sole "DES. REG. 767513" marking on the head, this banjulele was probably manufactured prior to 1928 when the Keech brothers moved back to Dallas USA. However, there is no patent number on the head and as such could have come before the 1925 grant of patent.
https://ukulelemagazine.com/stories/great-ukes-alvin-keech-may-or-may-not-have-invented-the-banjo-uke-but-he-certainly-helped-popularize-it
The markings "L/A 33" and "DES. REG. 767513" (design rights) place this as a very early "model A long scale" Keech banjulele, serial # 33. In my years of research I could only find these later models: L/A # 476, 629 and 763. As such, this early model serial # 33 is very hard to find throughout the world.
For my pricing, I have been quite reasonable with my $340 price point. This is based on a full year of research of current market pricing of these same Keech banjulele's. If I wanted to sell it on eBay or Reverb.com then I'd price it closer to $480 but Kijiji people are never willing to pay the going market rates - everyone wants "a good deal".
The back is signed by both Alvin D Keech and J Burney. All Keech instruments would have been etched-signed by Alvin Keech. It has an ebony plate with mother-of-pearl inlay.
I will also be including the "Self Instructor Ukulele Banjo" book dated 1927 and the original case.
Pickup will be local to Toronto and only after the potential purchaser has seen the instrument in person. I will not sell to all the people who tell me they are from Calgary and wish to have it shipped to them.
Transaction options
Please reach out to the seller for more info as there may be additional costs.
Cash accepted
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$340
Keech "Long Scale L/A-33" Banjulele with known provenance (1925)
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