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c.1917 Lyon and Healy Style B 'Special' Mandolin

Serial #: 13, L&H 'Highest Grade' 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/7th frets: .95/1.10

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

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

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.

Bearing serial number 13, this handsome instrument is of the earliest known L&H arched back mandolins. Designated as 'Spec.' on it's label, the instrument is a very early example of what would be known as the Style 'B' model. With its long 13 3/4" scale, these early models are highly desirable, with greater punch and projection than later issues with a shorter scale. The stepped art-deco styled headstock, and two-point symmetrical body are signatures of the model, and with its beautifully bookmatched, walnut stained curly maple back, and precisely graduated solid spruce soundboard, the instrument is both visually striking, and sonically vibrant.

Hardware is all original as well, including the enclosed tuning machines, compensated solid ebony bridge, and contoured pickguard, stamped 'Pat. Applied For'. The ornate lyre motif 'Compensating' tailpiece, was according to company literature, so positioned as to produce 'a perfect octave back of the bridge, one octave above the harmonic produced at the 12th fret'.

At a slight 1lb 14oz, (.88 kg) the instrument is notably light in weight, with a lively, open voice, enhanced by its hand applied French polish finish. All original and maintained in splendid condition, the instrument is free of cracks, buckle, thumb, or fingerboard wear, with fine original fretwork on a level, solid ebony fingerboard, with smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. All binding is original and tight to the body, as are the curly maple rims, which show a few short ridges here and there. Apart from a few pick dents near the guard, and some incidental finish nicks, the instrument shows few signs of play altogether.

With the resonance of tonewood aged over a century, this gleaming instrument is complete with its original arched black plush lined hardshell case. A rare and historic find, and an outstanding example from the dawn of this legendary model. One only: call now.

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

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