Tiki King's Ukulele Database:
Tabu
Around 1915, many Ukuleles were being made in the US, and stamped "Made in Hawaii". Hawaiian Uke makes began incorporating the word "TABU" on Ukes to differentiate the real Hawaiian Ukes from the fakes. Also around this time some Hawaiian Uke makers tried to make it a misdemeanor to include "made in Hawaii" on a mainland USA Uke, as seen in this excerpt from the New York times, from September of 1915:
" The Hawaiians are devising a distinctive trademark which they will ask to have protected by legislation. They want authority to place on the instrument made in the Islands the legend: "Made in Hawaii, U.S.A." and making it a misdemeanor to use this legend on the instruments made in the U.S."
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