Silvertone Stratotone Newport Model H-42/2 Model Solid Body Electric Guitar, made by Harmony (1956), made in Chicago, green metallic finish, hardwood body and neck, gig bag case.
Originally priced at the grand sum of $67.50, the Harmony Stratotone Newport H-42/2 is about as small, simple, and handy as an electric guitar gets. The metallic green "Colorama" finish and the metal-and-rubber "Harmometal" body trim make this a fantastic example of 1950s "Populuxe" aesthetics. The through-body neck is very large and chunky, but the body wings are very thin and light, making for a unique feel. You really *could* use this as a canoe paddle, which we would not recommend, although we've seen some that look like they spent some time upriver!
The pickup is the same small metal-covered DeArmond made unit as the more familiar and slightly upscale Model H-44 which cost all of $5.00 more most years. Despite its diminutive size and rather unsubstantial feel, this Newport is quite chunky sounding. The controls are a single tone-bypass switch and a cool stacked tower of concentric tone and volume knobs on a single pot. This example carries a stacked CTS pot dated 550 (the end of 1955), so would have been assembled and sold in 1956. The H-42/2 was sold under both the Harmony and Silvertone names but in either case is a relatively rare guitar, especially in this decently playable condition. These are always a cool conversation piece guitar and a funky treat for the '50s culture connoisseur.
Overall length is 36 1/4 in. (92.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar is in surprisingly good playable condition, one of the nicer we have had. It remains completely original and unaltered if a wee bit scruffy, showing some general wear overall. The originally shimmering bright green lacquer finish has a LOT of fade and some typical wear including an assortment of dings, chips, scrapes and dents, especially to the edges. The most notable is to the back of the neck, worn down inn the center into and then through the white primer as is typical of these 50s metallic lacquers that simply do not wear all that well.
All the (fairly minimal) hardware is all original and in better shape than many of these often poorly cared for guitars. Even the often cracked thin plastic pickguard is superficially scuffed but remains completely intact. The simple wooden bridge is also original and undamaged, screwed right to the body but uncracked with an intact if polished up fretwire saddle. This guitar will never play like a 1950s Les Paul, but this is actually a serviceable instrument with what look like original frets that have been polished out but have only light wear. It is housed in a modern gig bag, a relic of more colorful days. Long live "Colorama" and "Harmometal" -- may they be a balm for our modern times! Overall Excellent - Condition.
