1950s  Kahlmen Lap Steel

Wild lap steel. w/bag

Hoo hah! You ever seen another like it? I don't think so. All the photos in the world aren't going go give even half an idea of how wild this thing looks. Iridescent green/red/gold/silver covering over the entire body, colors change as you look at it from different angles. "C. Kahlmen" and "Patent Pending" is engraved on the front of the peghead; beats me. One or two have opined that it was made in New Jersey and I can believe that just by looking at it. Also some opinions that it was made in the 1930s, but the type of material used for the body covering looks more like 50's to me; no shrinkage of it at all, a good clue. Tuners are definitely 50's though they do not look to be original to the guitar. No matter. Real deal is that this thing is HOT, incredibly deep-sounding pickup of an alien nature. Volume control works in reverse direction, go figure. Most definitely the wildest lap steel we've come across, ever. So cool I almost can't stand it.