Official Luthiers Forum!

Okay, one of my clients bought a wreck of a Wurlitzer Cincinnatus parlor guitar yesterday at an auction. The body seems to be all there, but there are cracks on the back where it's been removed once or twice (near as I can tell). The bridge appears to be made of plywood (it's quite elaborate) and the neck is cheap pine with a rosewood board. The peghead looks like a jigsaw puzzle of species. There is old glue all over - some of it looks like white glue. The neck was sawed off at the body, and the fret was replaced with aluminum sheet metal. The bridge saddle is aluminum, too. The tuners and nut are working, but a button or two has been replaced with wood. The nylon strings are a mile high off the neck. He was hoping it was a Wurlitzer made by Martin. No chance - it's a Lyon & Healy with ladder bracing, not x bracing.

I was able to eyeball it, but took no pictures. The body and back are thin and quite responsive when tapped. It has potential. He wants it playable, even if that means lots of time and money on work and new parts. Anyone know who might have a source of info and materials? I could probably do it, but someone familiar with these should probably do the work. Price will be no object, he can afford it.

Pix later.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

If my info is correct this is the low end of their line of guitars.
I found this catalog on line, I’m not sure what year it was published but the price of the Cincinnatus is around $4.25 and the Howard is over $10.
I’m sure this doesn’t help much, wanted to send it back up to the top of the list.

https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/d ... 9/download

Good luck. Hope it works out okay for ya

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Thanks, Dave.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince