1938 Montgomery Wards Carson J Robison Cowboy Guitar Sunburst

Today, Lawman Guitars is Presenting..

A 1938 Gibson Made Carson J Robison Cowboy Guitar with original Case.

This guitar is a great testament to how guitars were viewed in the 1930’s. The public had as much interest in the old West and Cowboy life as much as we still do 80 years later. Carson J Robinson was the earliest Radio Show singing cowboys. His first radio show was in 1920 for Radio Station WDAF. Carson J Robinson Guitars were first made in 1930 thru 1941. A great run for a Celebrity Endorsed Guitar line.

This guitar is from Jan of 1938. You can see that they were marketed by the Montgomery Ward Company and this guitar still has the original Montgomery Ward Label and date stamp. In the Fall of 1936, Gibson Guitars of Kalamazoo MI were commissioned to make these guitars for Montgomery Wards. The woods, finish, and workmanship of  one of America’s finest Guitar Companies is shown in this guitar. It is original from head to toe. The Carson J Robinson stenciled Logo is still bright with no wear shown. The original open back tuners are in great shape and still function as they should. It also has the original Nut, bridge, endpin and Firestripe Pickguard. I suspect the bridge pins and bridge saddle have been replaced but certainly look vintage correct on this guitar. There is slight bellying on the bridge with raises the bridge slightly from the back side. It does not seem to affect the action much. This guitar is infinity playable if not very pleasant.

The tone is much like a Prewar Gibson for obvious reasons. It is a Gibson Guitar. It has much finish crazing like most older Gibsons and sounds great. I have included a 1930’s Softshell Case which is slightly big for the guitar but is vintage and age correct for it. You will love this historically significant cowboy guitar by Gibson.

Here is some information I found on the net about Carson J Robison.

Carson Jay Robison (August 4, 1890 - March 24, 1957) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although his impact is generally forgotten today, he played a major role in promoting country music in its early years through numerous recordings and radio appearances. He was also known as Charles Robison and sometimes composed under the pseudonym Carlos B. McAfee

In 1924 he moved to New York City and was signed to his first recording contract with Victor Records. Also that year, Robison started a professional collaboration with Vernon Dalhart, one of the era's most notable singers. Through this relationship, Robison realized huge success, mainly as a songwriter but also as a musician, accompanying Dalhart on guitar, harmonica, whistling, and harmony vocals. In one of their first collaborations, Robison accompanied Dalhart on the landmark recording of "Wreck of the Old '97" b/w "The Prisoner's Song" (1924), widely regarded as country music's first million-seller. During this period, Robison also became a successful composer of "event" songs, which recounted current events or tragedies in a predictable fashion, usually concluding in a moral lesson. Some popular examples of his topical compositions include "The Wreck of the Number 9" and "The John T. Scopes Trial", about the famous Scopes Monkey Trial.

 In 1928, after Dalhart made a personnel change without consulting Robison, their relationship ended. Although the breakup did not prove lucrative for either artist, Robison continued to record for decades to come. From 1928 to 1931 he teamed with Frank Luther, recording songs for various labels and appearing on WOR radio in New York City. In 1932, he started his own band, Carl Robison's Pioneers (later renamed The Buckaroos), and continued touring and recording through the 1930s and 1940s. It was during this period that Robison made some of the earliest tours of a country musician in the British Isles, appearing there in 1932, 1936, and 1938. According to Billboard, his 1942 recording of the standard "Turkey in the Straw" was that year's top selling country recording. In the late 1940s and early 1950s he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. His most famous recording was 1948's "Life Gets Tee-Jus Don't It", a worldwide hit for MGM Records.

Songs

"The Little Green Valley"  "Left My Gal in the Mountains" "Sleepy Rio Grande" "Goin' Back to Texas"

"Utah Trail" "Red River Valley" "Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie" "The Runaway Train"

"The Denver Dragon" "Sittin By the Fire" “Life gets Tee Jus”

You will not be disappointed in this guitar. It is a History Lesson that plays great. Shipping is $78 for the lower 48..

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