Bohmann mandolin headstocks

[Hambonepicker]

Brought this discussion up at tail end of last post [Spanish Students - need references], but it should be a new post.

Thanks for the response. It was positively scintillating!

Mentioned two Bohmann headstock shapes - but there were more than two, and I am wondering if anyone has seen one that I have not. I refer not to the ca. 1915 mickey mouse shaped headstock, but to earlier headstocks on Bohmann bowlbacks.

Have previously assumed it easier to locate early Bohmann mandolins than to locate early Bohmann guitars (easily demonstrable by viewing variant instrument labels before and after the 1889 Paris Expo); however, that may not be saying much.

Was there another common Bohmann headstock shape that preceded the two profiles that we know of?

Will start with the curved, solid headstock with the middle point.

[Hambonepicker]

Now for a more uncommon shape, on a Bohmann presentation grade mandolin.

[Hambonepicker]

Here is the headstock referred to in Bohmann catalogs as a fancy scroll design. (Though this is not what a mandolin player on this board would call a scroll.)

I have called this a flattened out, 2-D, fleur de lis design. I suppose it is more of a finial. Anyone come up with a better term?

This one is on a Bohmann presentation grade mandolin, but has the same basic profile as on the lower priced mandos.

[Hambonepicker]

Here is the tricky one. Sold on online auction a year or more ago for around $400 - fancy tuners, you know.

Did any of you win this auction? If so, can you describe to me what the inside of this C-shaped cutout looks like? Seller indicated to me that the stuff that appears to line the inside of this C-shape was soft - kind of like cork?

Examine this and the next two photos, and tell me if you think this headstock profile was the same as previous one and the smaller pieces broke off - or do you believe this was a different shape, and perhaps something else broke off?

If this is a new, undocumented shape for Bohmann mando headstocks, it may have been more frequent in some of his earlier mandolins, and could point to an unknown Bohmann cutout headstock design.

I will add that Bohmann had a tendency to stockpile uncompleted instruments, and on the special orders of higher grade models, to finish one of his instruments that was in stock. Rendering the labels (and the proprietary tuners) somewhat irrelevant for pinpointing the original build (rough build?) dates of his instruments - no matter what instrument it may be. (Not to mention the reputation of instrument labels in general.)

[Hambonepicker]

Now for the rear view. Whatever is in the C-curve does not appear to be very thick.

[Hambonepicker]

The closeup shot. Ideas, anyone? I have always thought this headstock was the perfect shape for someone not up to total reconstruction of the original design to ream it out and make it look as symmetrical as they could.

Luthiers and collectors - any ideas?

Hambonepicker

[Hambonepicker]

Why isn't there an emoticon that is breathing hard, with it's tongue hanging out?

Finally, would anyone care to ID any of these mandolins by maker? I mean any maker besides Bohmann, but am not saying anyone (save C. Valisi) is holding a Bohmann mandolin.

Thank you all for your response.

Hambonepicker

[Hambonepicker]

May as well add the cheaper model mandolin "finial" headstock, called a "fancy scroll head" in the catalog.

I have seen examples of these more than the single point headstock, which was listed in the catalog only on the three cheapest models of mandolin. All the other mandolin models were shown as having the "fancy scroll head." The presentation grade mandolins usually have this headstock form (though slightly more elaborate), also, as seen in the previous posting.

Hambonepicker.

Hambonepicker

[MikeEdgerton]

The closeup shot. Ideas, anyone? I have always thought this headstock was the perfect shape for someone not up to total reconstruction of the original design to ream it out and make it look as symmetrical as they could.
I think you're looking at a broken headstock that was more in the style of the Martin bowlback Headstocks originally.

[thistle3585]

Do a patent search using google and I think you'll find some drawings. I also have a Sears catalog from 1905 but not sure what he made for that catalog.

[Hambonepicker]

[QUOTE]I think you're looking at a broken headstock that was more in the style of the Martin bowlback Headstocks originally.

Is that to say, it differed from the other presentation Bohmann headstock? Will have to look at some old Martin headstocks, I guess. Thanks for the tip.

As to the second reply :

Have yet to find any drawings patenting a headstock design on a Bohmann. Most of the patent drawings show a guitar with a square-topped headstock - that is, pretty generic. There were a few Bohmann guitars with square, slotted headstocks. It has been quite difficult to find enough older guitars to learn about their morphological evolution.

The google patent search is pretty spotty for Bohmann. Will need to go to a college with the patent information (or an adjunct to the US Patent Office, if you will), or pay a firm to search for more Bohmann patents.

Keep those replies comin' in.

Hambonepicker

[Hambonepicker]

Wouldn't mind seeing some of those images from the 1905 Sears catalog.

People who have searched the Sears archives for the company's contracts with George Bauer, Stewart, Jos. Bohmann, et. al., have come up with hands empty, from what I hear.

Hambonepicker

[danb]

Here's the peghead from mine.. sadly the rest doesn't look restorable