SOLD - Weissenborn Miami Style 3 Koa Ukulele – USA c.1924

SOLD

Every now and then we see some fantastic ukuleles come through the door, and this Weissenborn Miami Style 3 is an excellent example. A beautiful, handcrafted ukulele and a great slice of history for any collector of fine instruments.

Henry Stadlmair distributed Weissenborn Instruments between 1923-1927, & 'Miami' was one of a few 'own-brand' labels he would use. Some owners choose to remove the paper label, all have revealed the Weissenborn stamp underneath, but the cool label remains here.

Style 3 was the top of the range of soprano ukes offered by Weissenborn- there were Styles 1,2 & 3, & a Style 10 Tenor uke. Weissenborn author/historian George T. Noe estimates there were no more than 150 ukuleles manufactured across all Styles. This uke has a typical for Weissenborn 3-digit pencilled number visible through the soundhole - which appears in nearly all Weissenborn instruments- Hawaiian, Spanish, Tenor & Plectrum guitars & Mandolins in this case '3/19'..meaning a Style 3, & likely the '19' is a batch number.

All Weissenborn instruments were constructed of Hawaiian Koa wood, but the rope-binding around the soundhole, top, back, fingerboard & headstock make this uke a visual knockout! The celluloid soundhole insert is present & correct (these often have fallen out or deteriorated over the years).

This ukulele is in wonderful condition for its age with very few blemishes. There is a small area at the base of the ukulele where the external layer of wood has cracked ever so slightly in two positions as indicated in the photographs, only on the surface. Three of the four tuning pegs have small cracks in them but still hold tune and work perfectly.

Included in the sale is the period case, a 'Miami' string package, & an original (not reprint) "MIAMI Ukulele Hughes"- whose name appears on the uke label- Instruction method book.

This ukulele is a wonderful instrument, a great piece of history, and would be a great addition to any collection.