DESCRIPTION:
Shown here is a beautiful Frank Benko Croatian Tamburiza, an instrument apparently built during 1946 by Frank Benko after he set up shop in what is now 'Downtown' Montreal at 3504 St Dominique, currently a residence.
Instruments by Benko Musical have a special connection to The Twelfth Fret – from 1954 to the 1973, the Benko shop occupied what became our original location. Born in 1925 in Croatia and emigrating to Canada immediately before WW2, Frank Benko was an instrument builder who settled in Montreal, later Toronto, and built a number of traditional European instruments such as the Brac, Tambura and mandolin, as well as guitars. Frank Benko died in 1980.
The label identifies this as a 'Radiona' model with a hand-written date or serial number of 1946. At first glance this instrument suggests a standard six-string archtop guitar but the narrow neck indicates a different purpose. Included in the case is a Canada Customs Export card from 1968, identifying the instrument as a Croatian Tamburiza. As strung now, it has three courses tuned G A D, the G and D being doubled and the A single course. Also in the case is a handwritten tuning guide for several popular tunes.
The top is Spruce with a large black protective inlay, the sides and back and neck are Maple. The fingerboard may be a stained and lacquered Maple, or may be lacquered Ebony. The large pickguard is an overlay, and started with a white plastic carefully masked around the edges, sprayed black, then the masking removed and sprayed clear. This produces the visual effect of binding. The headstock overlay is also a black plastic, with Mother of Pearl for the Benko logo and the dot position markers. The top binding includes a 'rope' motif in black and Mother of Pearl.
The six tuning pegs are not original - they are Ibanez Smooth Tune models - and neither is the tailpiece, which was designed for an 8-string octave mandolin with loop end strings. The tailpiece is stamped with the Benko logo, a stylized Maple Leaf and the years 1867-1967 - Canada's Centennial year. This strongly suggests that the tailpiece is from 1967, or 1968 at the latest, and that it was made by Frank Benko's son John, a tool and die maker who also built cases for his father.
The nut and saddle have been recut a number of times, indicating that the instrument has been reconfigured more than once. At one point, perhaps originally, it was strung with three double courses.
The oval label reads: across thee top 'Radiona', below that 'Tambura, Mandolina i Gitara' with 1946 in pen (not ball point) above; then 'Frank Benko' and below that, following the bottom of the oval, '3504 St Dominique Montreal Que'. We are dating this to 1946 based on the inked '1946' on the label, and its construction in Montreal which ended in 1951.
Sold with a hard shell case, black with white interior. This case may have been built around 1967 by John Benko.
In 1952, Frank Benko moved from Montreal to Berkley Street in Toronto. In 1954 he moved again and set up shop at the rear of 920 Kingston Road - the front was a tailor's shop. In this space, Benko built and restored many instruments for local professionals including building two guitars for Gordon Lightfoot.
After Frank Benko's retirement in 1973, this space was occupied by Joseph Kovacic as 'Lado Guitars' and in late 1976 as The Twelfth Fret Guitarists' Pro Shop. The tailor's showcases were still in place.
Grant MacNeill, owner of The Twelfth Fret, wrote a piece about meeting both Frank Benko and his son John; this can be read here.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Croatian Tamburiza
- Instrument Manufacturer: Frank Benko
- Instrument year: 1946
- Instrument Finish: Natural Top, Sunburst Neck, Shaded Back
- Instrument Class: Vintage
- Instrument serial number: N/A, dated to 1946 at Montreal Quebec
- Country of Origin: Canada
- Instrument Condition: Good
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Playing Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: No
- Case Type: Hard
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 2.3 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 5.06 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.472 in
- Scale Length Metric: 647 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.244 in
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Nut Width Metric: 31.59 mm
- Items in Case: 1968 Canada Customs Export Card, tuning notes
- Consignment: No
- Product ID: 20221101
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |