Neapolitan mandolin
Maker
Lyon & Healy
Trade Name
George Washburn
(trade name of Lyon & Healy)
Date1917 ca.
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
ModelGeorge Washburn Style 1618
Serial No.20732
SignedPrinted on oval paper label, the text around edge printed in dark red ink, the text at center printed in black ink, the serial number and model number rubber-stamped in [faded] black ink: WASHBURN / [around edge] HIGHEST AWARD WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION CHICAGO [small triangle] 1893 [small triangle] GOLD MEDAL AND DIPLOMA ANTEWRP [small triangle] 1894 / No 20732 Style 1618 / MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP / FULLY GUARANTEED FOR ONE / YEAR FROM DATE OF ORIGINAL PUR- / CHASE PROVIDING THIS LABEL / HAS NOT BEEN MUTILATED. / [triangle] MODEL 1915 [triangle]Engraved into metal tuner cover: WASHBURN
Branded into base of neck block: [text inside belt encircling a guitar] GEORGE / [WASHBURN]
MarkingsStamped in black ink on neck block: 20732
DescriptionSoundboard: two-piece spruce: fine grain
Bowl: 15 rosewood staves, inner 13 ribs narrower, divided by maple stringing
Clasp: rosewood; festooned lower end
Head: Spanish cedar veneered with rosewood on front face
Neck: Spanish cedar; integral with head
Binding: ebony; trim on top comprised of two-ply light and dark hardwood
Fingerboard: brown-stained maple; 20 nickel-silver frets under E and A strings, 18 under D and G strings; mother-of-pearl dots behind 3rd and 10th fret; mother-of-pearl single dots inlaid behind 5th, 7th, 12th, and 14th frets; ivory-celluloid side dots inlaid behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 12th, and 14th frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: missing
Tuners: enclosed worm-gear machine tuners with nickel-plated steel cover, brass rollers, and ivory-celluloid heads
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass; missing cover
Rosette: elliptical; ebony; trim comprised of four-ply light and dark hardwood
Pick guard: imitation tortoiseshell-celluloid
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelure
Bowl lining: black-painted cloth
Blocks: light hardwood neck and bottom blocks
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; spruce braces with tapered ends below soundhole and at widest point of body; thick spruce lining along inside of bend
Linings: dark-stained spruce
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 618 mm (24-11/32”)
Top length: 315 mm (12-13/32”)
Maximum body width: 202 mm (7-15/16”)
Maximum bowl height: 172 mm (6-25/32”)
Head length: 155 mm (6-3/32”)
Head width, top: 66 mm (2-19/32”)
Head width, bottom: 53 mm (2-3/32”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 143 mm (5-5/8”)
Neck width, nut: 30 mm (1-3/16”)
Neck width, heel: 39 mm (1-17/32”)
Soundhole height: 50 mm (1-31/32”)
Soundhole width: 75 mm (2-15/16”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 328 mm (12-29/32”) [estimated from discoloration on soundboard indicating where bridge would have been]
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number02487
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