Knutsen Harp Taropatch    

This is the first of only two known surviving specimens of Knutsen's harp taropatch (a double-course uke).
When this one sold on ebay in 2000 or 2001, I saw that it was the same instrument that was pictured almost twenty years ago in Robert Hartman's first book on the Larson Brothers' instruments (pictured at right)!
Interesting that the binding on the top seems to match exactly the binding on the two 1913-1914 Seattle "Harp Guitar Factory" guitars (HGS1 & 34). Similar multi-colored rope on the soundhole also!
So I'm going to guess that the date on this is likely the same.
It's the only uke with this trim seen so far (other than the second taropatch found)
It also has an arched back, which few of the ukuleles are known to have.
I never got the scale length yet on it, but I assume it is similar, if not identical, to the HT3 (actually, a tenor scale). In fact, the instruments were probably built concurrently - the wood grain on the backs match exactly!

ht2.jpg (41789 bytes) ht2head.jpg (43014 bytes) ht2close.jpg (38472 bytes) ht2back.jpg (39624 bytes) ht1front.jpg (14241 bytes)

Click on a picture to enlarge
(4 left images copyright David Kalish, right image Robert C. Hartman)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HT1

                 Category

Harp Taropatches

                 Body Style

"Standard"

                 Current or last known owner

Jimmy Kojiro > anonymous

                 Year (approx)

1913-1914

                 Label

none

                 Courses / Strings

4 course: 8 strings

                 Scale length

unknown (presumed 16-1/2")

Woods

Top

koa

Back & Sides

koa

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

unknown

Headstock veneer

unknown

Binding, trim

Top

maple/red-dyed wood/maple?

Back

none

Fingerboard

none

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole

multi-colored rope and 2 pearl dots

                 Inlay

no fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

                 Comments

Pictured in "Guitars and Mandolins in America" by R.C. Hartman, p.110. Thanks to Andy Roth for sending in the new images.

 

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