Up for grabs is a very cool and RARE Washburn ukulele. I purchased this from an estate auction and it is fully playable and sounds great. Here is a video on youtube. Taken with iphone so sound quality is not great: https://youtu.be/1hJE1HWKg2k?feature=shared

The ukulele is a Washburn Model 1915, style 1715. These seem to be fairly rare as there is virtually no information online about them, and few examples to look at. I talked to two people who have reputable shops and are experts in vintage instruments, and neither have seen one in their 50 year career. I have been told it was most likely manufactured in Chicago at the Washburn factory sometime between 1915-1922.

Here are the specs from an old catalog photo (I included the photo) in Hubert Pleijsier‘a book on Washburn instruments:

“Highest grade flamed mahogany. Beautifully finished and highly polished. Top, back, and heel bound with black and white celluloid. Sound hole bound with black and white celluloid and decorated with three rings of wood inlaying. Top, back, and sides inlaid with a faint line of white celluloid. Mahogany neck, Koa fingerboard, bridge, and headpiece. Champion patent pegs with black buttons.”

The flamed mahogany is really stunning looking! Comes with the original hard shell case with fully functioning latches that work great. It has a beautiful warm punchy tone that sounds really good and continues to ring after you stop strumming. The benefit of being over 100 years old sure makes a difference.

Now onto condition. I am listing this exactly as I found and received it from the estate auction and have done nothing to it. Over all it is in really Good condition with normal scratches and wear conducive with being over 100 years old. It has the following:

* Original friction tuners with one replacement white button, fully functional and keep tuning.

* Finish crazing conducive with age.

* Two wear spots on top in finish from strumming (see picture). This was definitely played which no doubt opened up the sound.

* Two hairline surface cracks in neck. Repaired a long time ago and completely stable (see pictures)

* Tiny hairline crack on top next to bridge (see picture). This is very common and these older ukuleles. It appears to be very stable so it was either fixed a long time ago or is just on the surface.

* No other cracks, or major dings/scratches on the ukulele.

* The first three frets on the fretboard show finger marks from playing.

* The binding is all intact and needs no repair.

* The bridge is glued down and not lifting up.

* The top is flat with no bellying or concaving.

This is a very cool and rare ukulele. This Washburn really deserves to be displayed or enjoyed as part of a collection. Let me know if you have any questions or would like specific pictures taken. Thanks for looking