~1910 Harwood Parlor Natural

Harwood Standard Size 1 3/4 c 1910 | $2750 | (v2336) Harwood instruments were manufactured and marketed by the J.W. Jenkens Sons Music Company in Kansas City, MO. The Harwood name comes from the town in Illinois where the Jenkins family lived before moving to Kansas City. The company began in the late ninteenth century and continued through the first quarter of the twentieth century. The materials used for construction are on par with the better makers of the day, and build quality was quite high, too. Close, if not equal, to Martin and Lyon & Healy. This particular example is a 'standard 1 3/4 size and sports several hallmarks of the Harwood brand. One is the foil label inside on the heel block. Another is the small peg attached to the back of the headstock, possibly for a strap. Many Harwoods also feature the Harwood logo in 'ivoroid' at the 17th/18th fret as well as Harwood in pearl on the headstock. Overall, the quintissential parlor guitar! (An extensive overview of Jenkins' Harwood production can be found at harpguitars.net.)

The back and sides are a high quality Brazilian rosewood. The back is bound in white celluloid and features an inlaid marquetry strip down the middle seam. The spruce top is bound in white celluloid and colorful marquetry, with the soundhole featuring similar adornment.
The top is 'ladder' braced, and, in an interesting deviation from convention, the braces are made from mahogany! The 'flat pyramid' bridge is ebony and appears original to the guitar. Bridge pins are replacements. The neck is mahogany and carved in a pronounced 'V'. The fingerboard is ebony, features a slight radius and features multiple pearl dot position markers. The headstock is overlayed in Brazilian veneer with the Harwood name in pearl. The tuners are original. The serial number, 28681, is stamped on top of the headstock. Jenkins advertised in its catalogs that Harwood guitars are built for steel strings.

The lower bout measures 12". Scale length is 24 5/8". The fingerboard is 1 7/8" across at the nut with string spacing set at 2 5/16" at the saddle.

Prior repairs include a neck reset; a side crack repair; refret. We recently dressed the frets, filled a hairline between the bridge pin holes, cleaned and lubed the tuners, and set the action at 6/64". There are various nicks and dings from wear and use, but overall an attractive guitar.

The guitar is very light in weight, plays easily and produces a pleasant tone despite its size. A beautiful and historically interesting fingerpicking guitar.

Comes with a newer Gator case.

Check out the sound clip!