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Stroh Hawaiian Guitar, c. 1920
Manufacturer
George Evans & Company
Associated name
John Matthias Augustus Stroh
Datec. 1920
Mediumaluminum; celluloid
DimensionsOverall (HWD) (bell): 27 7/8 × 43 3/16 × 99 1/8 in. (70.866 × 109.728 × 251.715 cm)
Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection
Object number2001.107.1
Text EntriesWith a large metal horn and resonating device, this circa 1920s Strohviols Hawaiian guitar represents an early attempt to project sound before the invention of electric amplification.
John Matthias Augustus Stroh (1828-1914) was a German-born inventor living in London who modified the basic design of the violin in 1899 to create a new line of instruments under the brand name Strohviols. These unique-looking violins (and later other stringed instruments like this guitar) were manufactured by the George Evans & Company, in collaboration with the Stroh family. These unique instruments featured a modified bridge connected to an aluminum diaphragm that directed and amplified sound through a large movable horn, very similar to the mechanical amplification methods used in gramophones of the time.
A six-stringed instrument featuring metal hardware, wood fingerboard and headstock mounted to a circular aluminum sound resonating chamber and large amplification horn. On either side of the fingerboard and string assembly are two hand/finger rests. The hand/finger rests, as well as the tailpiece seem to be made of a tortoiseshell-like celluloid.
CopyrightThe organization that has made the Item available reasonably believes that the Item is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. For more information, see http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/
On View
Not on view
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