Double Bass Cast Aluminum bridge found on a 52 Kay

[mburd]

I just picked up a 52 Kay M1B from the grandson of the original owner. Played hard for decades in local Maine dance halls and orchestras; often 6 nights a week, and it shows it!
Anyhow, it came with this crazy bridge. Looks sand cast, no markings whatsoever anywhere. Fortunately there was a piece of wood between it and the top, so luckily no damage to the top. The wood vaporized when removed and a standard bridge was fitted I was told.
Any clues?

 

[GretschWretch]

There is another recent thread about this type bass bridge and I have one in my parts bin, so they are not super duper obscure (at least no more obscure than aluminum DBs). My guess is that they are a jurassic attempt to provide a bridge that is height adjustable, with perhaps a corollary "benefit" of using many feet to distribute the down-pressure on the top more widely.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Looks like a Slowey.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Wow

 

[Martin Beer]

I think these originally came with cups on the bottom of the screw feet. That would certainly account for the three round scars on the front of my bass, anyway!

 

[MR PC]

Good pictures are around of Pops Foster's bass with this bridge installed. Looks horrible, could be that it dumbed down wolfs/ freqs for broadcast purposes. I can't imagine a bass being much fun to play with one of those.

 

[Stewart jessett]

The three legged bridge was made by Selmer. I put one on my double bass 60 years ago. The reason was to stop the wooden bridge falling over when knocked during transport. It's still on my Horner double bass and I'm still playing (trad jazz) it's been on TV,radio, films Windsor castle boats ships fields pubs busking in streets, you name it, it's never let me down. I put small strips of leather under each string to avoid wear. I also always play through an amp.

 

[james condino]

Framus also used them and repackaged them with their own label. If only they worked as cool as they look...

 

[Stewart jessett]

Sorry for misprint. It's a Hofner double bass not a horner. The Selmer bridge lay on small alloy saucers,so as not to dent the wood.