An emotional moment unfolded on Antiques Roadshow when a guest learned the unexpected value of his late father’s guitar during the show’s visit to Chepstow Racecourse in Wales.
The episode featured expert Marc Allum, a specialist with a deep passion for music, who was eager to appraise a cherished Slingerland Maybell guitar brought in by the guest. The instrument held sentimental value for the owner, having belonged to his father.
Allum shared his enthusiasm: “I was sitting at my table, watching this guitar case making its way through the queue, hoping it would arrive at my table. When I opened the case, I saw this beautiful Slingerland Maybell guitar. Now, tell me what you know about it.”
The guest fondly recalled, “I always remember my father playing it, not like a normal guitar, but as a slide guitar for Hawaiian music.”
Allum pointed out a distinctive feature of the instrument: “It’s interesting you mention that because when I picked it up, I noticed it has a very high action. As a guitarist myself, I can’t play it traditionally. It has a brass bridge that raises the action to play slide guitar.”
The guest confirmed, “He played it on his lap.”
Allum explained further, “That’s fascinating. The model is a Nighthawk, an arch-top guitar dating back to the late 1930s, introduced around 1936, so it’s a very old guitar.”
The guest revealed that his father bought the guitar in 1944, showing a receipt from the Arcade Music Shop in Pontypridd, which showed he paid £15 and 10 shillings for it.
“That was a lot of money back then,” Allum remarked, as the guest added, “He said it was about four weeks’ wages.”
The guest admitted he wasn’t sure what motivated his father to make such a significant purchase.
“I would have loved to have seen your father playing it,” Allum said, as the guest produced a black-and-white photo of his father with the guitar, taken before it was altered.
“Fantastic. What a brilliant photo,” Allum said, appreciating the context. “It’s wonderful to see him with the guitar.”
Summarizing his thoughts, Allum noted: “This guitar is not just an instrument, it’s a piece of furniture. It’s American, from Chicago, and absolutely beautiful. I’m passionate about old guitars, and while I’ve owned a few myself, this one is an absolute beauty. If I were to own it, I would have to pay £1,000.”
The guest was left speechless by the valuation, responding with a stunned, “Gosh. Wow, wow,” as Allum added, “It’s a real beauty, and highly collectible in America.”
Visibly moved, the guest concluded with a heartfelt, “Wow. I’m overwhelmed.”
Related Topics
