Mandolin
Date1919-1930 ca.
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
Modellute / flat back model
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsStamped into tailpiece: BELL BRAND / PATENTED / N.M.S.Co.
DescriptionStringing: eight strings – reverse-strung [possibly for left-handed playing]
Soundboard: single piece of wide- to fine-grained spruce with rosewood finish around
Back: birch
Ribs: birch
Head: brown-stained maple; integral with neck
Neck: maple; heel stained brown; integral with head
Heel cap: none
Binding: ivoroid on top and back edges
Fretboard: rosewood bound in ivoroid; 18 nickel-silver bar frets under steel-wire strings, 20 under steel-wound strings; mother-of-pearl single-dots inlaid behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Nut: missing
Bridge: missing
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass
Tuners: two sets of worm-gear machine tuners with nickel-plated brass covers, nickel-plated brass rollers, and ivory-plastic heads
Endpin: none
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 619 mm (24-3/8”)
Back length: 336 mm (13-7/32”)
Width at upper bouts (scroll): 110 mm (4-11/32”)
Width at middle points: 147 mm (5-25/32”)
Width at lower bouts: 243 mm (9-9/16”)
Rib height, at heel: 45 mm (1-25/32”)
Rib height, at waist (middle points): 45.7 mm (1-13/16”)
Rib height, at endpin: 45 mm (1-25/32”)
Head length: 154 mm (6-1/16”)
Head width, top: 55 mm (2-5/32”)
Head width, bottom: 63 mm (2-15/32”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 153.7 mm (6-1/16”)
Neck width, nut: 28.8 mm (1-1/8”)
Neck width, heel: 37.5 mm (1-15/32”)
Soundhole height: 46.5 mm (1-27/32”)
Soundhole width: 74.7 mm (2-15/16”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): cannot estimate – no bridge present
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number04066
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