My Great grandfathers High School Shop Project

[Hooligan]

The story as I remember it is, this is the guitar that my late Great Grandfather built as a shop project while he was in high school. I was told he made this for his high school sweet heart. I do not know if that was my Great Grandmother or not. I also know that he landed in New York in 1901 from his natural born home of Oslo Norway. His name was Albert Hougan, pronounced "How-gun". In America we pronounce the name "Hoe-gun"

It looks like to me this is a parlor sized guitar made of mahogany back and sides. The top is either spruce or cedar. All the binding and rosette etc is hand cut woods of contrasting color......Amazing. The neck is also laminted mahogany. The fret board looks like ebony. The tuners and end pins are of course ivory as is the nut and saddle. He was not only a gifted craftsman but he also did his homework on tone woods and preferred guitar building materials. There is no wonder in my mind where I get my sense of adventure and my love of working with my hands.

This is the guitar that I am wondering if can be repaired if for nothing more than a display peice in tribute to my Great Grandfather.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar001.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar002.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar003.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar004.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar005.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar006.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar007.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar008.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar009.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar010.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar011.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/MattHougan/AlsGuitar012.jpg

[MusicChad]

MAN! What a BEAUTIFUL instrument that must have been! I seriously hope that repairing it is possible and economical simply because I would LOVE to see what that guitar would look like restored! Thanks for sharing the pics! Unfortunately, I can't really offer any advice for you at this point...

[Hooligan]

I just spoke to Jim Hauer my luthier and he asured me he can restore it. He sited instances where he restored guiatrs that were nearly crushed. I sent him the pictures you see here. Hopefully it will be within the budget to get it done. If he does do it I hope he can take some progress photos for us to see it come back to life...........

[stephen]

..............If he does do it I hope he can take some progress photos for us to see it come back to life...........

Oh yeah! That would be sweet!

Hey, it would send him some business his way if he does it right.........

[Kitty]

Nice piece of family history you got there - a real treasure.

[Barry]

Hey, it would send him some business his way if he does it right.........

Maybe from here. I've got my grandmother's old mandolin. It's got a few cracks of it's own.

[MDK2323]

Wow! If I built a guitar in shop class, I'm sure the parts would have consisted of a shoe box and some rubber bands. That's an impressive guitar considering it was made by a high school kid.