May Bell Cathedranola

Cathedranola from the Scott Chinery collection
Click a pic to view it full size in a new page. -- Created 31 Oct 03 --

The Cathedranola, 1934 (?), mahogany body, spruce top, purchased from the Scott Chinery collection. Supposedly made by Regal, as were all the Cathedranola-style instruments. Larger than a size 0, the Cathedranolas have 13½" lower bouts, 9½" upper bouts, 19" body length, and a 39" overall length, with a 25" scale.
A view of the back... a top end instrument as the marquetry is inlaid... cheaper instruments had decals. The finish is pretty tired, and shows its age.
The head of the Cathedranola, a different shape than most May Bells or Slingerlands, but I've seen a shape very close to this on a May Bell banjo ukulele. The head shows hints of the dip in the center that is common to the Slingerlands. The Pearloid covering is very cracked and crazed but must have been quite spectacular when new.
View of the neck & head, showing the Gold Sparkle Pearloid covering... Several models of Maybell had various colored pearloid covered heads, fingerboards, bridges, or in some cases, the entire body. This guitar has a 1 15/16" nut.
The soundboard of the Cathedranola. This is yet a different style, with the top not being completely cut out, and the secondary soundboard being made of balsa wood (note the fingernail marks in the board! VERY soft). There are 3 mahogany strips that the bridge sits on, as the balsa wood would not be strong enough to support the tension put upon it by the bridge.
View of the rosewood bridge with holes drilled into it, bone saddle. It has been altered over the years, with the slots being filled, and re-slotted, and two shims added to the bottom of the bridge. Note the two holes in the mahogany strip that supports the metal cover... I have no idea what they are for!
The soundboard of the Cathedranola, showing the ¼" ring that is glued to the bottom edge of the top.

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