Orpheum A style

[WireBoy]

Hello folks,
#A friend of mine showed me this old Orpheum A style that she has had rattling around her closet for years. #she got it used many years ago. #Any one know the history of this brand and /or model? #i can look thru the (f?) hole and see where a label had been, but it ain't there now. #i'll post a few pics so you all can take a look. #i don't know how it sounds, the strings are dead (and out of tune). #i'm going to change the strings in a few minutes. #however it does feel nice. neck is straight, no cracks, just some finish crazing. 14" scale , 1 3/16 (yay!) at the nut.
thanks for looking.

[WireBoy]

front

[WireBoy]

back

[WireBoy]

peghead

[WireBoy]

bridge /neck

[WireBoy]

side

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

HI Eric,

That mandolin looks very much like the strad-o-lins, which are very nice for what they are. I'm sure once you get it set up you'll be diggin it vibe http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[WireBoy]

Thanks mike,
#i was thinking strad-o-lin too with those s holes. #i wonder whats with the D in the peg head? #i don't know much about strad-o-lins either.

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

My quess would be the "D" is for deluxe! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[atetone]

I have long suspected that these are the same mandolin as a Stradolin. This particular one has a support under the fingerboard extension.
That is the only thing different from the 2 Stradolins that I have.
Other than that they are identical. I was glad to see that other posters pointed out Stradolin as a possibility. Now I know I am not nuts.
I am sure that whoever made Stradolins also made these Orpheums.
The big unknown is the history of Stradolin. I haven't heard what I would consider to be a compelling history of the company yet.
Some speculation but nothing solid.

[JGWoods]

The Orpheum name probably reached it's zenith in the very early 1900s when Rettberg and Lange produced very high quality banjos under that name in NYC. I have a #1 and it is a fine instrument, with classy inlays, figured maple neck and pot, and an archtop tone ring that gives Orpheum banjos a unique sound.

For some reason- unknown to me- the name stopped being used and Rettberg and Lange began to produce Paramount banjos- some of the fanciest ever made, and the once proud Orpheum name had no instument associated with it.
Then, in the 1930s I think, the name was licensed out to others by whoever owned it- maybe Rettberg and Lang, maybe successors, and a number of instruments of varying quality, and unknow manufacture, appeared with the Orpheum name- mandolins and guitars with headstocks like the one you have.

I think the name disappeared again through the 60s-90s and appeared just recently in the form of banjos and some mandolins that were made by Tacoma- though I think they were made by the Korean side of the Tacoma business, not the USA maker- I think the Young Chang Piano Co. of Korea was the owner and founders of Tacoma guitars.

Now Tacoma Guitars of the USA have been bought by Fender, and I am guessing that Fender got the Orpheum name too, in which case we may see Orpheum guitars, banjos and mandolins that are pretty Fendrish.

best
jgwoods

[steve in tampa]

I just saw some of the new Orpheum guitars. Made in Indonesia. All solid woods and lots of inlay. Nice sounding and playing starter instruments.

[Jim Garber]

Here's the rundown as far as I can determine:
Orpheum was originally the brandname of mostly banjos by Rettberg & Lange of New York. In 1921, Lange left to start the Paramount brand. In th 1944 the brand was acquired by Maurice Lipsky Music Co. who used is for beginning to imtermediate grade instruments which were likely manufacfured by Regal, Kay and United Guitar (a NJ firm that coincidentlaly produced plywood archtip guitar bodies for D'Angelico's lowed line in the 1950). In the 1960s the brand was applied to Japanese imports. Lipsky dropped the brand in 1967 and it was revived by Tacoma on 2001. (this paraphrased from VG Guide 2005, with a few of my own additions).

My theory is that United Guitar built both the Stradolins and the Orpheum mandolins. I also have a Stradolin clone that is labelled Weymann, prob from the same period.

Jim

[Bob DeVellis]

Jim -- nice detective work. Sounds very likely to me.

[WireBoy]

thanks for sharing the info guys.