Neapolitan mandolin
Maker
Vega Company
Distributor
W. J. Dyer & Brother
(distributor)
Date1920 ca.
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
ModelJ. F. Stetson
Serial No.none
SignedBranded on oval maple veneer label with branded-line border: J. F.STETSON & Co. / MAKERSMarkingsWritten on endblock in pencil: 5/16
Written on endblock in pencil: (00 [sic]
Silver sticker with festooned outline and blue line border on head, torn: [oblit.]ER / [oblit.]P
DescriptionSoundboard: two-piece spruce, fine grain broadening toward the flanks
Bowl: 15 rosewood staves divided by maple stringing
Clasp: rosewood
Head: mahogany veneered with rosewood on front face
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Binding: ivory; trimmed with angled strips of light, red, and green hardwood, surrounded on each side by light hardwood strips, alternating light and dark hardwood mosaic, and light and dark hardwood strips
Fingerboard: ebony bound in ivory; 17 nickel-silver frets; mother-of-pearl inlay: dot with ink-filled double concentric circle and dot engraving behind 3rd fret; abstract bow with black-ink-filled engraving behind 5th fret; diamond with black-ink-filled engraving behind 7th fret; lozenge with black-ink-filled engraving behind 10th fret; two dots with ink-filled double concentric circle and dot engraving behind 12th fret; dot with ink-filled single concentric circle and dot engraving behind 15th fret
Nut: ivory
Bridge: ebony
Tuners: two sets of nickel-plated steel worm-gear machine tuners with enclosed mechanisms and ivoroid heads
Tailpiece: nickel-plated steel; top cover missing
Rosette: angled strips of light, red, and green hardwood, surrounded on each side by light hardwood strips, alternating light and dark hardwood mosaic, and light and dark hardwood strips; soundhole bound with ivory
Pick guard: imitation-tortoise-shell-celluloid with festooned lower edge; extends to trim on treble side
Lacquer: clear
Bowl lining: five brown cotton bands across inside of lower bowl
Top braces: spruce brace above soundhole; two spruce braces below soundhole; mahogany linings at joint between top an bowl
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 614 mm (24-3/16″)
Top length: 324 mm (12-3/4″)
Maximum body width: 193 mm (7-19/32″)
Maximum bowl height: 132 mm (5-3/16″)
Head length: 148 mm (5-27/32″)
Head width, top: 65 mm (2-9/16″)
Head width, bottom: 50 mm (2″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 138 mm (5-13/16″)
Neck width, nut: 27 mm (1-1/16″)
Neck width, heel: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Soundhole height: 42 mm (1-5/8″)
Soundhole width: 69 mm (2-23/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 330 mm (13″)
ProvenancePurchased around 1920 by Dr. Arthur L. Haines, Professor of Chemistry at The University of South Dakota.
Credit LineGift of Verne E. and Bonnie H. Anderson, 1983
Object number03195
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