Neapolitan mandolin

Date1920 ca.

Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America

ModelBenson

Serial No.none

SignedPrinted on oval label inside sound hole: P. BENSON / MANUFACTURER & IMPORTER, / THE BENSON / OF HIGH GRADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. / MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. U.S.A.
Markingsnone
DescriptionThe Benson company started in 1891. The style no. 1 Vega mandolin matching the description of this instrument is found in the 1920 Vega Mandolins, Lutes and Guitars catalog.

Soundboard: two-piece spruce, wide grain narrowing to fine toward the flanks
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: Rosewood; 8-ply alternating strips of maple and ebony purfling; binding and purfling finished with same varnish as body
Fingerboard: ebony; extended fingerboard; 20 nickel-silver frets;
Nut: ivory
Bridge: ebony with ivory saddle; not fixed to top
Pegs: enclosed with engraved nickel plated brass cover plate on the back of the head; ivoroid buttons
Tailpiece: nickel plated brass with festooned cover
Rosette: elliptical with ivoroid binding inside the soundhole bordered by, 4-ply alternating black and white purfling, 3 mm wide mother-of-pearl inlay and 4-ply alternating black and white purfling
Pick guard: tortoise shell with festooned lower edge; inlaid with twenty piece mother-of-pearl flower and vine
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with fine craquelure
Bowl lining: beige paper
Top braces: spruce brace above soundhole; two spruce braces below soundhole; white linen over the bend in the top; white linen covering the center seam below the lowest brace; brown hardwood linings at joint between top an bowl
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 603 mm (23-3/4″)
Top length: 301 mm (11-7/8″)
Maximum body width: 199 mm (7-27/32″)
Maximum bowl height: 144 mm (5-11/16″)
Head length: 147 mm (5-13/16″)
Head width, top: 66 mm (2-19/32″)
Head width, bottom: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 146 mm (5-3/4″)
Neck width, nut: 27 mm (1-1/16″)
Neck width, heel: 37 mm (1-7/16″)
Soundhole height: 48 mm (1-7/8″)
Soundhole width: 76 mm (3″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 330 mm (13″)
ProvenanceOriginally, owned by Anna Marie Wicklund and passed on to her son, Arnold Benson.

Credit LineGift of the Benson family, 2012

Object number14681

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