Snagged an old 40’s Regal mini jumbo.

[Rambozo96]

An oxymoronic statement but I don’t really know how else to describe this shape other than being a cross between a OOO and a jumbo. Pretty much a copy of a Kalamazoo KG11 from what I gathered possibly made by Lyon and Healy.

 

[GGJaguar]

A very unique body shape. Looks like it could be fun, congrats!

 

[Sal]

Nice!

 

[bobouz]

An oxymoronic statement but I don’t really know how else to describe this shape other than being a cross between a OOO and a jumbo. Pretty much a copy of a Kalamazoo KG11 from what I gathered possibly made by Lyon and Healy.

Regal was an independent Chicago-based maker. To my knowledge, they were not under the umbrella of Lyon & Healy. Regal made instruments for Dobro & others, and typically displayed good quality. Your guitar looks very interesting!

 

[fronobulax]

I heard of Lyon & Healy because of their harps.

If you believe the internet Lyon & Healy manufactured guitars that were sold under the Lyon & Healy and Washburn names.

Emil Wulschner, of Indianapolis, opened his first music instruments factory –"Emil Wulschner & Son" in 1896 to build guitars and mandolins. Products were sold under three brand names: Regal, university and 20th. Century.

In 1904, after the death of Wulschner, Lyon & Healy purchased rights to the brand Regal. Four years later, the company officially re-introduced the Regal name in Chicago, establishing their factory there. Lyon & Healy set Regal up as an independent company in 1924.

I suspect to make an accurate statement about a Regal branded instrument you will need to know when it was made to determine L&H's involvement. Kind of like Guild and FMIC.

 

[Rambozo96]

I heard of Lyon & Healy because of their harps.

If you believe the internet Lyon & Healy manufactured guitars that were sold under the Lyon & Healy and Washburn names.

Emil Wulschner, of Indianapolis, opened his first music instruments factory –"Emil Wulschner & Son" in 1896 to build guitars and mandolins. Products were sold under three brand names: Regal, university and 20th. Century.

In 1904, after the death of Wulschner, Lyon & Healy purchased rights to the brand Regal. Four years later, the company officially re-introduced the Regal name in Chicago, establishing their factory there. Lyon & Healy set Regal up as an independent company in 1924.

I suspect to make an accurate statement about a Regal branded instrument you will need to know when it was made to determine L&H's involvement. Kind of like Guild and FMIC.

Best I can figure is early 40’s. Regal went under and was purchased by Harmony in the early 50’s if I’m not mistaken. I guess they were their own operation because I suspect if it was a contracted outsourcing job I’d see the stubby jumbo shape under the usual main manufacturing big boys like Harmony or Kay.

 

[fronobulax]

Best I can figure is early 40’s. Regal went under and was purchased by Harmony in the early 50’s if I’m not mistaken. I guess they were their own operation because I suspect if it was a contracted outsourcing job I’d see the stubby jumbo shape under the usual main manufacturing big boys like Harmony or Kay.

Harmony purchased Regal in 1954 so if it is '40's Regal was "independent" but there seems to be some association with L&H.

 

[bobouz]

I heard of Lyon & Healy because of their harps.

If you believe the internet Lyon & Healy manufactured guitars that were sold under the Lyon & Healy and Washburn names.

Emil Wulschner, of Indianapolis, opened his first music instruments factory –"Emil Wulschner & Son" in 1896 to build guitars and mandolins. Products were sold under three brand names: Regal, university and 20th. Century.

In 1904, after the death of Wulschner, Lyon & Healy purchased rights to the brand Regal. Four years later, the company officially re-introduced the Regal name in Chicago, establishing their factory there. Lyon & Healy set Regal up as an independent company in 1924.

I suspect to make an accurate statement about a Regal branded instrument you will need to know when it was made to determine L&H's involvement. Kind of like Guild and FMIC.

To date, none of the reference book info I’ve come across shows Lyon & Healy owning Regal - although it’s certainly possible at some point they did (but must say, I do trust books more than the internet!).

Regal did have its beginnings in Indiana, while Lyon & Healy was formed in Chicago by the Oliver Ditson Co. of Boston (for whom Martin would build the first dreadnought guitar). This new enterprise was named for the Ditson associates who ran it - George Washburn Lyon & Patrick Healy. By 1880, Lyon & Healy was independent & sold instruments under the Washburn name - and they built a large factory to produce a rather extensive line & variety of instruments. The Washburn brand flourished until the 1920s, but then sales dropped off, with Lyon & Healy getting out of the guitar business in 1928. They sold the Washburn name to the Tonk Brothers, who eventually hired Regal to build Washburns. Regal was already now established in Chicago, primarily building mandolins. They took over the Washburn factory for Tonk Bros, and simultaneously began an expanded line of Regal instruments. Regal’s heyday was in the ‘30s. They’re probably best known for making Dobros for the Dopyera Bros from 1933 to 1942. While operations continued into the ‘40s, they never totally regained their footing after WWII.

Indeed, establishing a build date for this guitar should be helpful in figuring out which company/factory built it, so let us know if you find out more!

 

[fronobulax]

To date, none of the reference book info I’ve come across shows Lyon & Healy owning Regal - although it’s certainly possible at some point they did (but must say, I do trust books more than the internet!).

Regal did have its beginnings in Indiana, while Lyon & Healy was formed in Chicago by the Oliver Ditson Co. of Boston (for whom Martin would build the first dreadnought guitar). This new enterprise was named for the Ditson associates who ran it - George Washburn Lyon & Patrick Healy. By 1880, Lyon & Healy was independent & sold instruments under the Washburn name - and they built a large factory to produce a rather extensive line & variety of instruments. The Washburn brand flourished until the 1920s, but then sales dropped off, with Lyon & Healy getting out of the guitar business in 1928. They sold the Washburn name to the Tonk Brothers, who eventually hired Regal to build Washburns. Regal was already now established in Chicago, primarily building mandolins. They took over the Washburn factory for Tonk Bros, and simultaneously began an expanded line of Regal instruments. Regal’s heyday was in the ‘30s. They’re probably best known for making Dobros for the Dopyera Bros from 1933 to 1942. While operations continued into the ‘40s, they never totally regained their footing after WWII.

Indeed, establishing a build date for this guitar should be helpful in figuring out which company/factory built it, so let us know if you find out more!

I am just quoting the internet so I expect to be wrong. There are also opportunities for subtle distinctions in how things are worded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regal_Musical_Instrument_Company says

In 1904, Lyon & Healy purchased rights to the brand Regal. Four years later, the company officially re-introduced the Regal name[1] in Chicago, establishing their factory there. Lyon & Healy set Regal up as an independent company in 1924.

There is certainly an opportunity to distinguish between owning the rights to the brand, owing the factory and operating the company.

I'm just curious. Using Guild as an example the brand and the manufacturing facilities had various owners. The degree to which Guild was operated as an independent subsidiary also varied. For example FMIC owned Guild. You could argue that Guild was operated as an independent subsidiary until production was moved out of Westerly. The independence was eroded after the move to the point that Guilds and Fenders were made in the same factory.

Thanks.

 

[bobouz]

There were many players in the Chicago instrument manufacturing & distributing scene, especially as it sorted out the eventual survivors - so the wiki info might indeed be on the mark. But regarding the OP’s guitar, it would appear that Lyon & Healy were no longer in the game by the time it was built. To some extent, it does seem to echo FMIC’s market maneuvering episodes!

 

[jp]

Very cool! The first thing I thought of when I saw it was how it might compare to the Guild Junior Jumbo. It seems to have the same scale as well, but the upper bout seems slightly slimmer.