Parlor guitar thrift shop special

[TEETERFAN]

I thought I would check and see if anyone has a idea what this little critter is. I bought it for $50 at a thrift shop a few years ago. No branding whatsoever, perhaps it had a paper label that is long gone. Washburn? Looking at the “upside down” tuners, I am thinking pre 1915.
It will need a bunch of work, binding, bridge, neck reset, ect. Looks to be some kind of rosewood with ebony bridge and fretboard. Any help figuring this instrument out will be appropriated. Thanks!

[Stray Feathers]

What an interesting project - I'm interested to see what the experts say. It does not look like a dime-store guitar. Do the tuners function normally as mounted, or are they installed on the wrong sides?

[TEETERFAN]

Early Martins (pre 1925?) were oriented that way. Here’s a shot of a 1870s Size1, Style 21.

[Diane Kauffmds]

That might be an old Regal. The purfling and upside-down turners look right. The fb inlay is different. The regal bridge on the guitar in this link doesn't have a pyramid bridge, but over 100 years, it's more than possible that the bridge on the Regal, in this link. has been changed.

Very nice find!

https://reverb.com/item/47708818-regal- ... 9GEALw_wcB

[TEETERFAN]

Thanks Diane, I hadn’t explored Regals. Shape of neck and back of headstock match well. Binding very similar. The fingerboard inlays are pretty unusual on my guitar and I haven’t seen anything that matches those. I appreciate your input and hopefully some investigation into Regal may offer additional clues.

[Diane Kauffmds]

Found some fb inlay that is similar, not exact. As you can tell, I love researching old guitars. I have an exceptional archtop that I'm ID'ing. I will search through my Martin reference books for you.

Regal or Washburn used stars. At any rate, it's a heck of a find.

https://pin.it/NyVeJPp

[TEETERFAN]

Yea, I am pretty thrilled. I don’t know how much hope there is cosmetically, but I at least want to fix the structural issues and get it playable. What little sounds I have got out of it are real “old timey”. Kinda like the guitar tone of Robert Johnson.

[MaineGeezer]

It might be made by Bruno. They made a lot of guitars under various labels.

[TEETERFAN]

Thanks, I will check put Bruno!

[TEETERFAN]

I found this picture of a Bay State. While not an exact match, fretboard inlays look close.