Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Charles Bruno, and later C. Bruno & Son, was a major New York based distributor of musical instruments with roots as far back as the early/mid 1800s. He was one of C.F. Martin's two New York wholesalers for a number of years commencing in the 1850s, and was closely affiliated with Martin Guitars during the formative years of the American guitar. While this particular guitar wasn't built by C.F. Martin, much of its design appears to bear inspiration from that company's instruments.
I’ve done some online research about "The Vernon", and one of the experts that I’ve discovered who has a lot of info about Harmonys, Regals and Stella models had this info:
The "Vernon" was a line of instruments that C. Bruno began in 1904, according to the trademark documents, and used through the 1920s. It was officially trademarked in 1942 [2]. The name was applied to banjos, guitars, mandolins, tiples, ukuleles, and banjo ukuleles.
Courtesy of snathanieladams.com/2022/05/c-bruno-son-vernon-guitar.html
It is not known for sure who made these "The Vernon" models. It would make sense that one of the giant manufacturers in Chicago like Regal or Harmony made them, but there are a few differences that stand out. The neck heel shape, the distinctive marquetry of the edge purfling and rosette all seem a little more high end. One guess is that it’s possibly a Haynes or Baystate built line, made specifically for Bruno. Whoever made them did a fantastic job, the detail work is superior to much of the Chicago stuff from that era.
For this and other guitars I have for sale, visit my Reverb shop at:
reverb.com/shop/brians-gear-locker-914?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=shop&utm_content=1115749
Charles Bruno, and later C. Bruno & Son, was a major New York based distributor of musical instruments with roots as far back as the early/mid 1800s. He was one of C.F. Martin's two New York wholesalers for a number of years commencing in the 1850s, and was closely affiliated with Martin Guitars during the formative years of the American guitar. While this particular guitar wasn't built by C.F. Martin, much of its design appears to bear inspiration from that company's instruments.
I’ve done some online research about "The Vernon", and one of the experts that I’ve discovered who has a lot of info about Harmonys, Regals and Stella models had this info:
The "Vernon" was a line of instruments that C. Bruno began in 1904, according to the trademark documents, and used through the 1920s. It was officially trademarked in 1942 [2]. The name was applied to banjos, guitars, mandolins, tiples, ukuleles, and banjo ukuleles.
Courtesy of snathanieladams.com/2022/05/c-bruno-son-vernon-guitar.html
It is not known for sure who made these "The Vernon" models. It would make sense that one of the giant manufacturers in Chicago like Regal or Harmony made them, but there are a few differences that stand out. The neck heel shape, the distinctive marquetry of the edge purfling and rosette all seem a little more high end. One guess is that it’s possibly a Haynes or Baystate built line, made specifically for Bruno. Whoever made them did a fantastic job, the detail work is superior to much of the Chicago stuff from that era.
For this and other guitars I have for sale, visit my Reverb shop at:
reverb.com/shop/brians-gear-locker-914?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=shop&utm_content=1115749
