Le Domino Guitar

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Le Domino Guitar

by Pat Saville
(Maryland)

I think it is a salesman sample of a 1935 Le domino. Small and has dominoes printed on it.

Hi, Pat--

Here is some background info:

Le Domino is a brandname associated with James R. Stewart Co circa 1920s until he went out of business in 1930. His company was acquired by Tonk Brothers, who then sold all his brand names off to Regal. Tonk sold most of his manufacturing equipment to Harmony and the rest to Slingerland.

So your guitar was probably sold by Regal, but could have actually been made for them by Harmony or Slingerland with old machinery.

Le Domino is really big in ukuleles; they made a ton. The guitars are less common, but not particularly high grade, the most interesting thing being the domino decoration. Most are made of plywood.

The Blue Book does not provide a price listing for this guitar.

Best Wishes,

Lynne

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Le Domino Guitar

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May 15, 2011
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Le Domino
by: Anonymous

While Regal DID make Le Domino in the 1930's,my further research has indicated that Tonk Brothers probably DID NOT own Regal at any time, and while Harmony ukes and Regal ukes appear to be made from the same sources, it is likely that Regal made the ukes for Harmony, since Harmony (owned by Sears under the SUPERTONE name) was not being supported by Sears, and they likely had Regal make the Ukes and label them Harmony or Supertone. Regal was very sucessful in the late 1930's, and Supertone was being abandoned by Sears, and would be sold in 1941 to become an independent company.
sorry for the confusion.
Al Geierman

Apr 21, 2009
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Le Domino
by: Anonymous

Hello,
Regarding the Le Domino guitar; the models made by the J R Stewart company have a crest that contains the monogram; "JRS" on the headstock. The Regal made models were labelled inside with a Regal label. The Regal Musical Instrument Company bought the Le Domino name and most of Stewart's wood and equipment when he went bankrupt in 1930. They made the BIG BOY archtop Le Domino model, and several high quality standard and large body flattop Le Domino models. These guitars were solid wood, mainly maple with black or sunburst finishes and spruce tops. Tonk Brothers bought Regal in the late thirties, and did not continue the Le Domino line of guitars, however many Le Domino birch ukes exist that were probably made by Harmony with a Regal label on them, as Tonk would shop the manufacturing out to Harmony and Kay for many of it's models. The Regal factory was reserved for high end Regal (Jimmie Vaughan Stevie Ray's brother plays a high end Regal Prince archtop from the late thirties), Washburn and Dobro manufacturing. Many REGAL instruments were actually made by Kay and Harmony from the late thirties on. Most Le Domino guitars are black, ALL of the Stewart made models so far as I have seen, are black, although many Stewart made guitars are unusually painted and dyed woods. Many Lyon & Healy guitars from the late twenties are made by Stewart. There are Le Domino banjo ukes and Banjos that are also higher quality, as are many of the guitars. The Le Domino guitar bridge was generally made of maple, and bridge replacements after eighty years are quite common.
I hope this helps!
Al Geierman

Apr 17, 2009
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Made my money back on it.
by: Anonymous

I bought one of these Le Domino acoustics at an antique store for 50 bucks several years ago... A couple years back, i threw it on ebay, just to get rid of it... Made 750 bucks on it.. :)

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Le Domino Guitar

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Le Domino Guitar