1905 - Mandolin by Lyon and Healy
In 1905, the Benjamin Temple of Music in Kalamzoo, Michigan was displaying a the largest mandolin ever built which happened to be a Washburn. It was also noted to have been displayed at the Lousiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis.
No photos of the instrument appear to survive
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| Image Credit: [3] |
1921 - Bass Drum by Leedy Mfg Co
Built for Paul S. Emrick, director of the Purdue University Military Band, the largest drum was 45 inches wide and 7 feet 3 inches in diameter. It was claimed that the shell was large enough for a tall man to walk through it upright. It was headed with bull hides from Kingan & Co and a special carriage had to be built to move it through the parade. [6]
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| Image Credit: [6] |
1925 - Banjo by Roy Kearn
The largest banjo was completed in 1925 and built by San Jose resident Roy Kearn and spanned over ten feet long (beating the previous record by almost 3 feet). It was constructed with a head taken from a 32" bass drum. It was described as having eight inch long pegs that taper to an inch in diameter at their smallest point and strung with piano wire. It also required a whole hand to pluck a string [1][2].
It was displayed (and likely commissioned) by the California retailer Sherman, Clay, & Co.
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| The 10 foot banjo in 1925 Image Credit: [1] |
1933 - Guitar by Bert M. Anderson
Portland, Oregon resident Bert M. Anderson claimed to have built the largest guitar which was twenty-seven and a half inches wide.
No pictures survive
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| Image Credit: [5] |
1975 - Acoustic Guitar by The Harmony Company
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| Mr Rogers next to the Harmony Sovereign Image Credit: Archive.org and PBS - Mr Rogers ep 1421 |
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| Harmony Bicentennial Model Located at Ripleys in San Antonio, Texas |
1977 - Electric Guitar by Ken Lindemere and Joseph Sallay
This guitar was built by two Vancouver men, weighed 400 pounds, and was constructed in brass. It measured nine feet seven inches long by three feet six inches wide.
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| Ken and Joseph posed next to their guitar Image Credit: [4] |
Sources
[1] https://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1925-81-24/104/
[2] https://presto.arcade-museum.com/PRESTO-1925-2041/21/
[3] https://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1905-40-25/63/
[4] https://www.newspapers.com/image/481508107/?terms=largest%20guitar%20built&match=1
[5] https://www.newspapers.com/image/220758048/?terms=largest%20guitar%20built&match=1
[6] https://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1921-73-9/42/
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