Concert Size Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, labeled Galiano, c. 1925, black hard shell case.

Concert Size Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, labeled Galiano, c. 1925, probably Chicago, natural varnish finish, oak back and sides, spruce top, poplar neck with ebonized fingerboard, black hard shell case. This Galiano-labeled guitar has a big sound for a fairly small instrument, with a lot of character to boot. This is an interesting and fairly fancy guitar, well-preserved for an instrument from this time and place. New York City of the 1910s and 1920s boasted a number of small retail stores and instrument workshops operated by Italian immigrant luthier/businessmen including Antonio Cerrito, Raphael Ciani, J. Nettuno, Nicolai Turturro, and others. Many instruments sold in these stores were labeled "Galiano", a non-specific brand name that appears to have been shared by at least several of the shops. This tradename is found on both handmade and re-labeled factory product, often those made by Oscar Schmidt in Jersey City. This instrument is unusual for the brand; it does NOT appear to be a Schmidt-made instrument, instead is very similar to some Chicago-made product of the era, specifically Lyon & Healy. The label under the sound hole reads "A. Galiano Fabbricanti Di Chitarre e Mandolini" with no other information. The 13" wide body is made of figured oak, which was a Lyon & Healy specialty; the top is straight-grained spruce. The cosmetics are fairly fancy; the top and sound hole are bound with multiple strips of colored wood marquetry with a celluloid outer layer, the soundhole and backstrip are similar. The stained poplar neck is carved to a fairly hard "V" profile typical of the era, with a "ebonized" fingerboard carrying 3 inlaid pearl dots. Internally, the ladder bracing system is simple but a bit eccentric; the forward brace near the soundhole is canted (a Chicago trademark) and one other large brace is sited directly under the bridge, with the pins and strings run through it. Another brace sits under the fingerboard and that's it! The system seems to have worked well enough; the guitar is nicely intact about 100 years on! Overall this vaguely mysterious instrument is a well made, very playable and excellent-sounding guitar with a lot of period character.Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.). For its age this is a very well preserved and playable original guitar, especially in this modern era prized as a vintage 1920s style blues machine. The finish has dings, dents and scrapes overall, especially on the top, but is original and unaltered. Oddly enough the majority of the picking wear is over the strings, rather than under them as is common; it is possible the guitar was played left-handed long ago although it does not appear to have ever been restrung that way. Perhaps some Elizabeth Cotton, Otis Rush or Albert King style upside-down player used it decades ago. The guitar is in structurally excellent condition, with a good neck angle, straight neck and very little fret wear. The top is very solid in the bridge area (the unusual bracing has worked perfectly!) there is some very minor sinking near the fingerboard but all is solid. It is possible the bridge is not original but appears to have been on the instrument for a very long time. The neck has been cleanly reset. The guitar is a very good playing instrument, an excellent value in an authentic 1920s flat top suitable for vintage blues, ragtime or "Hillbilly" stylings or really just about anything! Overall Excellent - Condition.