Kalamazoo, Michigan
Gibson Guitar Factory

Wood, metal, plastic pick guard, Ivoroid trim, mother-of-pearl inlaid
ca. 1921 C.E.
Height: 45 in, Width: 19 in, Depth: 3.5 in
Strings – Lutes – Guitars

The Orville Gibson Style ‘U’ Harp Guitar is a guitar-based string instrument with additional unstopped strings that can accommodate individual plucking.  It was one of the company’s first ventures into the forerunner of the double-neck guitars which appeared almost 50 years later.  Seen here is the Gibson Sunburst ‘U’ Harp Guitar that combines 10 sub-bass strings and 6 standard tuning strings with a spruce top and birch body.

This Gibson 1921 Harp Guitar (serial number  62213) was owned and played by Frank Andrini of the ‘Andrini Brothers’ (Frank: 1906-1969 & Lawrence: 1908-1974).   Frank Andrini (born Francesco Andreini), came to the USA in 1921.  Prior to 1921, Mrs. Frank (Olga) Andrini accounts that the ‘Andrini Brothers’ had played for the American Red Cross in Italy during WWI for the Americans, and that Lawrence gave his first solo concert at 8 1/2 years old.  

According to Gateway Recordings, Inc., Frank and Lawrence, at the ages of 6 and 7 1/2 entertained American forces in Paris and Italy in 1917, and the American Consul Genoa arranged their coming to the United States. Then, in 1952 and 1954 they entertained U.S. troops in Korea and in 1965 and 1966 they performed for service men in Vietnam.  The ‘Andrini Brothers’ appeared as guest stars with Red Skelton, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby, and Rudy Vallee. And, according to Olga Andrini, they were featured in two seasons on the Paul Whiteman Show.

Fritz Kreisler, Paul Whiteman, Arthur Rodeiski, and Dr. Fritz Reiner have dubbed the ‘Andrini Brothers’ as the “Greatest Instrumentalists in the World.”  Their second LP album, “The World Famous Andrini Brothers,” produced by Gateway Recordings, Inc. # GLP 9012 served as a resource, in addition to a cassette taped interview with Olga Andrini in 1987, along with numerous newspaper clippings. Check out: www.harpguitars.net

Included with this Gibson Style ‘U’ Harp Guitar is the original case, original tuning hammer, LP, and taped interview with Frank Andrini’s wife.

Resource:  “Mandolins, Like Salami” by Sheri Mignano Crawford; Gregg Miner of www.harpguitars.net Frank is shown playing this Harp Guitar in photo from “Talk of the Town”