Sunday, February 11, 2018

Norma Guitars

Norma Guitars
In the mid 1960’s, a wholesale musical instrument distribution company existed known as Strum and Drum. They were based in Chicago, Illinois and imported guitars from all over the world and sometimes re-branded them for sale to United States music stores, or anyone who owned a business and wanted to sell guitars.

Don E. Noble & Company
In the 1950's company called Don Noble and Co, was founded in the 1950’s by Don Noble, a well-known accordion player and entrepreneur.  He began by importing Italian made musical instruments, mainly accordions, in an era when the "stomach Steinway" was very popular and accordions were being sold door-to-door, and accordion academies were common in most larger cities. But he also imported guitars under the Noble brand name.

Somehow Noble became involved with business man Norman Sackheim.  Eventually the name became Strum and Drum.

Italian made mid-1960's Nobel Guitar

Between Nobel, and Sackheim they imported quite a line-up that included Italiian guitars from EKO, Avanti, Wandre, and Goya.  In 1969 Strum and Drum purchased the National Guitar brand name.


Norma  EG-470
However from 1965 until 1969, you could find guitars with lots of pickups and switches under the brand name Norma, which was the feminized version of Mr. Sackheim’s name. He made certain the name adorned the headstocks of thousands of inexpensive guitars back In a time when everyone wanted to be the next big rock star.

The logo was a stylized music staff, with the name Norma entered with the "N" as artistically designed 8th note. On some "high-end" models, the fret maker inlays were done in the letter "N".

1966 Norma Guitars
The manufacturing origin of these guitars is somewhat of a mystery, but for the most part they seem to have been manufactured at a plant called Tombo. We are for certain most of the fancier versions had their origin there.

1966 Tombo Guitar


As an aside “Tombo” is the Japanese word for Dragonfly The company is still active, but no longer manufacturers guitars. They now specialize in harmonicas under the Lee Oskar brand name. Some of the Norma guitars may have been manufactured by Teisco.




1969 Norma electric
  very similar to a Goya Rangemaster

The necks on these guitars were rather thick, possibly due to not have an adjustable truss rod. The single coil pickups are basic, and some guitars had as many as four pickups.



1966 Norma Bass Guitars



Then there are switches and knobs; lots of them. Most of these guitars and bass guitars were sold with a chipboard case, and retailed well below $100.





Mid 1960's Norma Catalog



Unfortunately after purchasing National Guitar, Norman Sackheim was killed in a plane crash while on a trip to Moscow. I know the company existed at lease until 1972.




'68 Norma 12



By far my favorite Norma electric guitar was their 12 string. The body was based on an exaggerated version of a Fender Stratocaster.






Head stock of 12 string



The headstock was an exaggerated version of a Rickenbacker 12 string.







1968 EG421-4



This guitar also came in a six string version with four pickups, lots of switches, and knobs. In doing some further research on Norma Guitars, I have learned that these guitars are prized by collectors, and are currently selling in the $800 to $1000 USD range.

Click on the links under the pictures for sources. Click on the links in the text for further reading.
©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only)





13 comments:

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Anonymous said...

Dude this helped me a lot thank you. I have A baritone Ukulele branded under the name Norma and had no info until O saw this so hank you so much.

Anonymous said...

Dude this helped me a lot thank you. I have A baritone Ukulele branded under the name Norma and had no info until O saw this so hank you so much.

marcusohara@aol.com said...

I am always glad to help out with guitar, and stringed instrument facts invaincugaming. Thank you for stopping by.

~Marc

Unknown said...

Hi Marc. Thanks for your posting. I've got a 1969(?) Norma Custom 6-string electric. It has very unusual split pickups. (4 total). Guitar body and neck looks similar to the Norma EG421-4 Guitar. Different electronic configuration. (Here is the model that I have: https://www.pulsebeatguitars.com/html/1960s/1969_Norma_Custom.php ).

Do you have any information on the Custom? And/or any places to find parts (knobs, whammy, switches).

Thanks, keep rockin' ~T.J.

flyinv said...
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flyinv said...
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Tammy said...

I have a question someone maybe able to answer. I came across a NorMa acoustic guitar thats a F39 it has some minor damage on it but it sounds great! Is it still valuable?

Unknown said...

Marc,

I go to a certain website a lot to look at their guitars hoping to find a diamond in the rough. So far not a lot of luck but I can get Fender Squires, and most name brand guitars for under $20.00 and they are usually in great shape.
I just saw a Norma for sale online and one I've never seen before in my life. I saw different one's as I was scrolling to this site, and sure enough you have a picture, the year, it says your favorite 12 string. It's the '68 Norma you have pictured above. The one they have is in mint condition too. Please email me if you would like more information about the guitar.
I'm do not own it but it's on the website I said I go to a lot.
I just checked the website and there's 14 bids on it, the current price is $241.00, with 2 day's and 14 hour's left to bid. When I went back to check the price the also gave a Teisco Del Ray, the model is ET-311, and the current price is $326.00
I am so happy I found your website. You really have some beautiful pictures of some one of a kind guitars. Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Jeff

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