Northern
"School Paddle"

Northern was set up by J Chalmers Doane in Canada in the late 60's to produce Ukuleles for a school music program that ran through most of the 70's using these distinctive Ukuleles with the Maple Leaf headstock and the Made In Japan sticker on the other side, (all the Ukuleles were made by Mitsuba Gakki). There are still quite a few about in various states, (as to be expected as something that was mass produced for school kids). They were predominantly Concert size though there are some Soprano's and to my mind this is now quite an iconic Ukulele. I think it will probably become a "classic" in time. Certainly it's well made, quite tuneful, fondly remembered by some and I believe it was an influence for the development of the MFC Fluke which in turn had a significant impact on the ushering of the third phase of Ukulele popularity.

It does stand up, unsupported, on its flat base, and it did come with a very 70's vinyl bag that smells just how I would imagine a Canadian classroom of the period would.