They were sold under the Winston brand name, and they were actually "badged" guitars, made for an import firm.Ī few years ago, before his passing, luthier Bill Collings, of Collings guitars launched a new venture.
Essentially they were copying (although they refer to it as 'making a reproduction') of an already inexpensive USA made guitar. These guitars usually retailed for a mere $20.00 USD and were made by either Teisco, or Kawai in the mid-1960's. A four string tenor model was also available. These were beginner or student grade budget guitars. In later years manufacturing of some Stella-type guitars were built in Japan. If there was a fixed tailpiece, it was screwed into the body. Most models had a stamped metal trapeze tailpiece. The machine heads were inexpensive, 3 on a plate, open gear style tuners.
The position markers were painted on the fret boar. The headstocks proudly announced "Steel Reinforced Neck", although it was not adjustable. The tops were usually had a two tone sunburst. Many of these were made by Harmony using solid birch wood for the bodies, that was painted to appear to have faux flame. Most guitar aficionados will be more familiar with the inexpensive Stella guitars manufactured by Harmony, than those made by Oscar Schmidt. In 1930 the company’s assets were sold to the Harmony Company of Chicago, although Oscar Schmidt continued to manufacture and market autoharps. Unfortunately the company did not last through the Great Depression of 1929.
At one point they even had five manufacturing facilities within the United States. The Oscar Schmidt Company flourished for many years. King called his guitar Lucille) provided a loud booming sound that could be heard In the Juke Joints or in the house parties during the days when amplification was not available, or deemed necessary. Leadbelly’s 12 string Stella (he called his guitar Stella, in the same way B.B. This made the Stella an attractive guitar for Blues players of the day. With all that said, Stella guitars sounded great, and came with an affordable price only $15 for a new guitar. Unfortunately this stain caused some of the boards to eventually rot. The fretboard was usually made of birch or maple and it was stained black. The bridges were made of rosewood, and on some instruments the strings attached to a trapeze tailpiece. Most Stella guitars did not last throughout the years, as the interior finishing was rather crude, and quickly completed. Stella guitars generally used ladder bracing. I've even run across those with decals applied to the fretboard. Some of the tops featured unique decal designs. Despite the low cost, the wood was solid. The nicer models were made of mahogany or German spruce. To keep the manufacturing cost down, many Stella guitars were made of solid birch. Stella guitars were made in various configurations, from parlor-sized, grand concert, even jumbo sized. At the time the company had two other brands La Scala, and Sovereign, with Sovereign being their top-of-the-line. The company created the Stella brand in 1899 as low cost and mid level guitars. Playing music in the family room/parlor, was how the term “parlor guitar” was coined.ġ920's Stella 1925 Soveriegn 1925 La Scala Most of the instruments produced by the company were durable, easy to play, and to learn on for beginners.ĭuring this era the only form of entertainment for families was outings, playing games such as cards, or playing music. While other instrument manufacturing companies would create instruments to be sold through department stores, or catalogs, usually under the store’s brand name, the Oscar Schmidt Company’s strategy was door-to-door marketing.Įach year the company would offer a special edition of an instrument, which was sometimes linked to a current newsworthy event, Salesmen kept detailed records of the customers buying habits, with the intent of reaching out to this customer in the future. The Oscar Schmidt Company not only made some nice guitars, but manufactured a variety of stringed musical instruments, such as lap harps, autoharps, chord zithers, and something called a ukelin (which is a bowed psaltery made in the shape of a violin). This company was established sometime between 1871, and incorporated in 1911.
#Stella sunburst guitar identification series#
Stella was the model name given to a series of guitars manufactured by The Oscar Schmidt Company of Jersey City, New Jersey.
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