View Full Version : Harmony H410 Date of construction?
Fiffoff
Jan-22-2009, 4:18pm
Hi, I'm new on this board.. Don't know how it works..
Anybody out there who could help me, dating a Harmony Monterey A mandolin (serial # 1895H410)? Sounds great, better than I expected! dark-red/black finish, black tuner knobs (plastic), faux (painted) flaming, adjustable bridge (is it original???)..
It came in a lovely OHSC, same one as for vintage Gibson mandolins., headstock says: Harmony (red) and Monterey (white), black pickguard
Thanks for helping a mandolin and uke fan!
Chris
MikeEdgerton
Jan-22-2009, 4:25pm
That's not a serial number it's a model number with the H standing for Harmony. Harmony didn't use serial numbers. Look inside and see if you can find another number stamped, probably in an oval that says something like S-52 or F-60 or W-65. Harmony date codes were interpreted this way. S-52 would mean it was built in the Summer of 1952, F-60 would be the Fall of 1960 and W-65 would be the Winter of 65. There's only one problem. Half the time the date code isn't there. If the date code is missing then we look at the tuners and such to try and date it. My guess is that this is from the 60's but I'd have to see the back of the headstock as well. I'm surprised it had a hardshell case. Most of these were sold with chipboard cases, like cardboard. They weren't expensive instruments.
Fiffoff
Jan-22-2009, 4:36pm
Wow, Speedy Gonzales answering, thank you. I attached new pic of back of headstock. I think case is much older than mandolin. I bought a Gibson A, 1916 two years ago in the same kind of case...
Chris
MikeEdgerton
Jan-22-2009, 4:45pm
Not too much help from the tuners. Could be from the late 40's to the 60's and the case may be worth more than the mandolin if it's a Gibson case.
Fiffoff
Jan-22-2009, 5:05pm
Yes, the case was the reason I bought the mandolin... never thought, that it sounds good enough to keep it. But what loving surprise, just put new string on and it plays great. Stays in tune, great and comfortable action all the way up fretboard..
Chris
allenhopkins
Jan-22-2009, 10:36pm
Of the Harmony mandolins I've played, the Montereys were the best, IMHO.