1920s Samuel C. Osborn Sammo (Chicago) Brazilian Parlor Guitar

This guitar is an incredible piece of playable history, and it still has a lot of songs left in it.

Based on a tiny surviving sliver of the interior label, I was able to identify it as a Sammo, built by the Chicago-based Samuel C. Osborn Manufacturing Company. The company was only in operation from 1916 to 1922, making this a rare survivor from a short-lived chapter of Chicago guitar building.

The guitar has solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides with a spruce top. I’m unable to determine the exact variety of spruce, although it is possible that it’s Adirondack. It is ladder-braced and very lightly built, with a small, comfortable body and a substantial V-shaped neck.

Specs:

• 24.375" scale length
• 1.71" nut width
• 13.25" lower bout
• 9.25" upper bout
• 3.75" deep at the end pin
• Solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides
• Spruce top
• Ladder bracing
• Substantial V-shaped neck

Because of its light construction, I keep it strung with Martin Silk & Phosphor 11-47 strings. They sound and play especially well on this guitar, giving it a very warm, rounded voice.

In 2014, the guitar received a neck reset and two crack repairs from well-respected Chicago luthier Rick Cremer. It currently plays perfectly, with action measuring 6/64" on the low E and 5/64" on the high E, along with a nice, tall saddle.

It’s small, lightweight, and an absolute joy to play. It needs no work and is ready to be enjoyed immediately.

The guitar comes with a hardshell arched-top case that fits it like a glove. I’m not sure whether the case was custom-made for the guitar, but the fit is excellent.

It has been kept in a smoke-free home at a monitored 50% relative humidity.

Not interested in trades.