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Neapolitan mandolin

Distributor Sears, Roebuck & Co. (distributor)

DateFall 1912 - Spring 1915 ca.

Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America

ModelNew Conqueror No. 12K7071⁄4 – Fall 1912 New Conqueror No. 12L7071⁄4 – Spring 1913 Excelsior No. 12N7091⁄4 – Fall 1913 Excelsior No. 12R7091⁄4 – Spring 1914 Excelsior No. 12T7091⁄4 – Fall 1914 Excelsior No. 12V7091⁄4

Serial No.none

Signednone visible
Markingsnone
DescriptionSoundboard: twopiece spruce: wide grain
Bowl: 11 alternating mahogany/rosewood staves, inner nine ribs narrower, divided by white holly stringing
Clasp: rosewood; festooned lower end
Head: mahogany or walnut, front face painted black; decal on front face of staff or torch with acanthusleaf head in red and lightbrown
Neck: mahogany or walnut; integral with head
Binding: ivoroid; trim comprised of fourply brownstained hardwood/maple/redstained maple/maple stripe on either side of alternating maple/rosewood rhombi strip
Fingerboard: brownstained maple; 17 nickelsilver bar frets; singledot motherofpearl inlays behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets [all are missing]
Nut: brownstained maple
Bridge: missing [from Sears catalog: “Solid ebony bridge.”]
Tuners: two sets of wormgear machine tuners with brass plates, brass rollers, and black-celluloid heads
Tailpiece: nickelplated brass [top portion missing]
Rosette: elliptical; trim comprised of same ornamentation as that found on soundboard [mostly missing]
Pick guard: black celluloid with decorative floral inlay of motherofpearl and light hardwood
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelure
Bowl lining: inside of bowl painted brown; one strip of brown mesh cloth at center of bowl
Blocks: brownpainted neck and bottom blocks
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; spruce brace with tapered ends below soundhole; flat rectangular spruce brace perpendicularlypositioned to others at center of soundboard
Linings: kerfed spruce
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 628 mm (2423/32”)
Top length: 328 mm (1229/32”)
Maximum body width: 193 mm (719/32”)
Maximum bowl height: 150 mm (529/32”)
Head length: 150 mm (529/32”)
Head width, top: 68 mm (211/16”)
Head width, bottom: 51 mm (2”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 145 mm (523/32”)
Neck width, nut: 30 mm (13/16”)
Neck width, heel: 38 mm (11/2”)
Soundhole height: 45 mm (125/32”) [approx.]
Soundhole width: 65 mm (29/16”) [approx.]
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 335 mm (133/16”) [approx. – estimated from line on soundboard indicating where bridge would have been]
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number03851

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