Charles E. Brasher was a luthier who made resonator instruments in Toronto, Canada in the early to mid 1930's. I had thought that he probably used a National cone in his instruments, but now have pictures and patent details to show that the cone used was, indeed, of his own design.
We are interested since he patented his own design cone in Canada, and yet his name has not been mentioned in any way in the context of patent infringement of National's own single cone patents.
We have now heard of four models made by Charles, three are pictured below, I have no picture of the fourth,(although we have heard of someone with one, so are hoping he can supply a few pictures) which was also a metal body and was called the Silvatone.
We would love to know more about these folks, I'm told that this was Charles' band and that he made their guitars. If you can help in anyway please email.
As you'll see, the cone is an interesting 'take' on National's version!
The biscuit in this case had a steel insert, we have heard of various other inserts being used.
Thanks to Peter Sloan for the Reliance and Artist model pictures. The Maui pictures comes from Michael Messer's forum on 'unusual resonator guitars'. I don't know who took the pictures, so, photographer please contact us to be credited.
The patent details can be viewed here, they are poor scans, but blame the Canada patent office please, not us!