La Foley

George La Foley
George La Foley was a British luthier, (or firm, I'm not sure of the size of the operation), manufacturing in London, UK, in the late 1920's and production appears to have ceased in the mid 30's. I have read, but can't confirm, George was actually George Foley and added the La to his name to sound more upmarket?

Under this branding the whole range of common fretted chordophones including Guitars and Mandolins, (but not Banjos), were produced, and are reputed to be among the best made in the UK at the time. With the Ukulele range, as well as the Standard and the Round bodied ones, there were larger Long Scale models and I have even seen a Taropatch.

There is a makers stamp found inside the body on the base of the neck and there is no external branding but the headstock design, the base of the fretboard and the white band around the sound hole are good indicators. I have seen a few examples have a fairly crude printed label inside of the sound hole, (all of the round bodied Ukuleles I have seen had one and I have seen it on a Standard model too), but not all of them and I don't know why some have and others haven't? Age and glue? A particular period?