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c.1919 Lyon and Healy 'Style A' Mandolin

Serial #: 855, L&H 'Made and Guaranteed' label Body size at lower bout: 9 3/4" Body depth: 1 3/4". Scale length: 13 3/4" Nut Width: 1 1/8" Neck depth, 1st/9th frets: .81/.96

Materials: Solid carved spruce soundboard, solid curly maple back and sides, solid multi-ply mahogany neck, solid ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, quintuple bound top, triple bound back.

Hardware: All original hardware includes nickel tailpiece with lyre motif cover, enclosed nickel tuners, vulcanized fibre headplate, tuner buttons and Pat.# pickguard, compensated solid ebony bridge, telescoping leg brace.

Notes: In their 1892 catalog, the Lyon and Healy Co. of Chicago reported production of some 100,000 instruments per year, including string, brass, and percussion instruments of all types, as well as pianos, and even pipe organs. Indeed, a distinguished line of harps are still produced under their name to this day. Even allowing for a bit of puffery, it still would have made the firm, founded in 1864, the largest producers of musical instruments in the world.

Lyon and Healy had been producing Neapolitan style bowl back mandolins since at least the 1880s, and by 1917 had introduced their first arched body models, most likely in response to Gibson's popular 'A' and 'F' series instruments. Styled 'A', 'B', and 'C' in descending order of price and ornamentation, these mandolins were produced under the Lyon and Healy brand until 1923, after which they bore Washburn labels. While production records never survived several factory fires, it's regarded as unlikely that any Style A mandolins would have been built much later than around 1930, though the other models may have survived a few more years into the Great Depression.

Australian luthier Peter Coombe has examined the instruments in depth, and verifies that the pickguard, headplate, tuner buttons and pickguard were all made of vulcanized fibre, a stable cellulose material which was also installed to reinforce the necks. Most significantly, his measurements confirm that the L&H soundboards were carved to exceptionally fine tolerances, as little as around 4mm at the arch, much thinner than Gibsons top, which could be as thick as 6mm. With their lighter weight, higher arch, and lower neck angle and bridge than their Gibson counterparts, the Lyon and Healy mandolins have long been renowned for their clear, articulated tone, and particularly treasured by classical performers.

This fine example is of the earliest, and to many the most desirable design, with its long 13 3/4" scale, shortened in later models to 13", and symmetrical body points, later changed to offset position on the sides. With its signature violin scroll headstock, the instrument is crafted with a striking, highly figured, and deftly bookmatched curly maple body, and a finely graduated carved spruce soundboard, with multi-ply binding.

Hardware is all original as well, including the enclosed tuning machines, compensated ebony bridge, and contoured pickguard, Pat. stamped 11-12-18. The ornate lyre motif 'Compensating' tailpiece, was according to a contemporary advertisement, so positioned as to produce 'a perfect octave back of the bridge, one octave above the harmonic produced at the 12th fret'. Completing the fittings is the unique telescoping leg brace, a short tipped rod that may be withdrawn from the lower treble side, and was designed to help stabilize the instrument on the lap.

At barely 1lb 11oz, (.78 kg) the instrument is almost impossibly light in weight, with a wonderfully open and resonant voice, enhanced by its hand applied French polish finish. All original and in fine condition, this featherweight varnish shows only some light thumbwear in the first position, and a few scattered pick and buckle marks on the body. Well maintained for over a century, the instrument has a single hairline crack of about 2" on the back, and another along the bass rim of about 6", both soundly resealed. Missing only the very tips of the scroll on either side of the headstock, the instrument is without cracks in the soundboard or neck otherwise.

The original 24 frets remain in excellent condition on a level, solid ebony fingerboard, with smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. Complete with its original arched black plush lined hardshell case, this rare find is a delight to the eye, ear, and hand alike. One only: call now.

Get The Set! Subject to prior sale, this instrument is available as a complete set including L&H Model 'B' and Model 'C' mandolins as well. Please inquire for special package pricing.

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