Cool old stuff thread

[CurtEgerer]

Good thread. I bought these old metal skis for a few $$ at a garage sale 25 years ago because they were so unusual. Never really knew what they were until doing some research recently. Turns out they are 'Air-Skis' from 1947 and were developed by a Dow Chemical engineer using Dowmetal O-1hta magnesium (the world's lightest structural metal at the time and developed for WWII aircraft). The skis were manufactured by the American Ski Company in the small northern Michigan town of Clare and shipped worldwide. They were the first important American contribution to the sport of skiing. I'm in the process of donating these to the Clare County Historical Museum.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

^HEY!!!! Those bindings are not safe!!!!

(I think everyone says that about the previous generation of bindings to make everyone feel like they need to upgrade)

My offering tonight is my 1931 national duolian.



In the 1920s, electric guitars had not been invented yet. Acoustic guitars could only be so loud... So an immigrant John Dopyera invented a resophonic guitar, basically, guitar strings attached to speaker cones. He invented the most (subjectively) beautiful instrument of all time- the national tricone in 1926. It cost the $300 at the time (The equivalent of 3 grand) in todays money. It became THE instrument of HAWAIIAN music which was popular at the time. Then the depression hit. Against his advice, his business partner unleashed John's second invention (this single cone) and released it for (I think 30 bucks) the equivalent of $300 in today's money.

It saved the company, but John Dopyera never liked or approved of releasing such an "inferior" instrument.

The single cone resonator (such as this duolian), however, became to be known as THE instrument of prewar slide guitar blues.

He had a falling out with his company, was ousted, and out of spite, Mr Dopyera invented the DOBRO, which is THE backbone of bluegrass sound.

He later used that success to buy out his original company. Then WWII hit- and the electric guitar was invented- and that was the end of that.

I cannot think of an inventor who came up with not one, but three very influential sounds for three different genres! Long Live John Dopyera!!!