Neapolitan mandolin
Distributor
American Band Instrument Company
Date1900-1925 ca.
Place DistributedBaltimore, Maryland, United States, North America
Serial No.none
SignedSignature text: Brass decal on peghead front face: AB; BALTIMORE / _._ / MARYLANDDescriptionSoundboard: birchBowl: Nine walnut staves, seven inner ribs narrower
Clasp: blackstained hardwood; festooned lower end
Head: orangestained maple
Neck: orangestained maple; integral with head
Binding: ivoroid; trim comprised of strip of alternating maple/rosewood rhombi, bound on either side by twoply light hardwood/brown hardwood stripes
Fingerboard: walnut or mahogany; 17 brass Tfrets; ivoroid singledots inlaid behind 5th, 7th, and 10th frets
Nut: walnut or mahogany
Bridge: ebony
Tuners: two sets of wormgear machine tuners with nickelplated brass plates, brass rollers, and black celluloid heads
Tailpiece: nickelplated brass
Rosette: elliptical; bound in ivoryplastic
Pick guard: decal – butterfly with multicolored wings on tortoiseshellpattern background
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelure
Bowl lining: inside of bowl painted black
Blocks: neck and end blocks painted black
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; spruce brace with tapered ends below soundhole and at widest point of soundboard
Linings: kerfed spruce
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 616 mm (241/4”)
Top length: 324 mm (123/4”)
Maximum body width: 207 mm (85/32”)
Maximum bowl height: 137 mm (53/8”)
Head length: 143 mm (55/8”)
Head width, top: 62 mm (27/16”)
Head width, bottom: 47.5 mm (17/8”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 146 mm (53/4”)
Neck width, nut: 27.3 mm (11/16”)
Neck width, heel: 40 mm (19/16”)
Soundhole height: 45 mm (125/32”)
Soundhole width: 73.5 mm (27/8”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 327.5 mm (127/8”)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number03864
On View
Not on view
1900-1925 ca.
