Neapolitan mandolin
Maker
Vega Company
Distributor
W. J. Dyer & Brother
(distributor)
Trade Name
J. F. Stetson
(trade name of W. J. Dyer & Brother)
Date1910 - 1925 ca.
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
ModelJ. F. Stetson
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsnone
DescriptionSoundboard: two-piece spruce, wide grain
Bowl: 21 rosewood staves, inner 19 ribs narrow and rounded, divided by maple stringing
Clasp: rosewood; festooned lower end
Head: mahogany veneered with rosewood on front face
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Binding: alternating strips of angled mother-of-pearl and ebony; 6-ply alternating strips of maple and ebony purfling; binding and purfling finished with same varnish as body
Fingerboard: ebony; 17 nickel-silver frets; rough finished with lettered fingerboard paper, printed black with white lettering
Nut: ebony
Bridge: ebony; not fixed to top
Pegs: two sets of brass-plated steel worm-gear machine tuners with black celluloid heads
Tailpiece: nickel silver with festooned cover
Rosette: elliptical with seven strips of alternating ebony and maple purfling, the ebony strips on outsides
Pick guard: tortoise shell with festooned lower edge; inlaid with seven-piece mother-of-pearl butterfly with nickel-silver wire antennae, and mother-of-pearl four leaf clovers on each side
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with fine craquelure
Bowl lining: purple paper
Top braces: spruce brace above soundhole; two spruce braces below soundhole; burn mark on inside at bend position; spruce linings at joint between top an bowl
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 614 mm (24-3/16″)
Top length: 324 mm (12-3/4″)
Maximum body width: 193 mm (7-19/32″)
Maximum bowl height: 132 mm (5-3/16″)
Head length: 148 mm (5-27/32″)
Head width, top: 65 mm (2-9/16″)
Head width, bottom: 50 mm (2″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 138 mm (5-13/16″)
Neck width, nut: 27 mm (1-1/16″)
Neck width, heel: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Soundhole height: 42 mm (1-5/8″)
Soundhole width: 69 mm (2-23/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 330 mm (13″)
Credit LinePaul and Jean Christian Collection
Object number11903
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