Kumalae Style 5 Model Soprano Ukulele, c. 1920, made in Honolulu, HI, natural varnish finish, koa wood body and neck, original black hard shell case.
This is a really beautiful Style 5 Kumalae soprano ukulele, the fanciest standard model the Hawaiian maker offered. The Style 5 was a top graded model in the cataloged Kumalae line, although the occasional custom build could get even fancier. This model has Kumalae's basic design spruced up by decorative wood marquetry around the top border, sound hole edges and center of the fingerboard. In addition this one has the more elaborate round-peaked "banjo" style headstock instead of the standard three-point; some style 5's do not.
The koa on the top and back has some lovely graining with a subtle flame pattern. While Kumalaes in general can show some spotty workmanship this top line model is as finely made as early genuine island-made ukes get. While impossible to date exactly this is an early-mid 1920s Kumalae, with the slightly wider-waisted waisted body shape and the headstock bearing a nice "Gold Award P.P.I.E. 1915" headstock decal celebrating an honor bestowed at the Panama-Pacific Exposition that year.
The tuners are a matched set of period Champion banjo-style pegs; while the uke would have usually come from Honolulu with wooden violin style pegs, many mainland dealers immediately fitted them with these plastic-button friction pegs for the tuning convenience of their customers. At least than 100+ years old, this is about the finest Kumalae we have ever seen, a fine playing and great sounding authentic deluxe Hawaiian instrument from the era of the first ukulele craze!
Overall length is 20 1/2 in. (52.1 cm.), 6 in. (15.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 3/8 in. (6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/8 in. (35 mm.).
Especially considering it is a least a century old this is a VERY clean uke. It showing some light general wear with small scuffs and dings but really looks not much played since arriving from Honolulu, TH back in the roaring '20s. There are no visible crack repairs; dryness cracks are extremely common on these Hawaiian ukes made 100 or so years ago out of unseasoned island koa wood so this is pretty amazing. The original bridge looks to have been neatly reglued long ago, another almost ubiquitous repair.
The instrument overall is very neat, including the intact and functional set of original period Champion friction pegs. The uke still plays very well and sounds great, with a powerful and rich tone. While the workmanship on many Kumalaes is somewhat crude by modern standards this is a neat piece, a beautiful playable piece of Hawaiian musical history. As a bonus, it still resides in a very nice high-grade mainland-made case (the kind fancy Martins came in) which it was likely sold with all those decades ago. Inside the pocket are some old green felt picks and a pitchpipe. Excellent Condition.
