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Thread: Please help identify this old mandolin

  1. #1
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    Default Please help identify this old mandolin

    This mandolin is an heirloom, which has been in our family since 1953 or earlier. It belonged to my late father-in-law who really loved playing it. I know very little about it. The label is our only clue: it says "made in Saxony" and "O.H.Jr.B". You may be able to see the lady playing a violin on the label thumbnail. The back and neck look like mahogany. The sound table is darkened spruce. The finish looks old and has developed a patina of fine cracks in the finish. It looks good! The neck is well worn.
    The tuners look yellowed and old, but are all intact. Except for a missing 5th fret and some ancient strings, the instrument seems fixable with minimum effort. The rosette and other decorations seem very modest.

    I's appreciate your help in identifying this instruments origin and anything else you can tell me about it.

    Thanks,
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    Peter

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Just a wild guess... OH = Otto Hoyer. They were known more for violins and bows but could have built or sold mandolins and were located in Saxony.
    Jim

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Maybe something here:
    http://www.mandolinluthier.com/germa...lin_makers.htm

    Markneukirchen in Saxony is the Chicago of German musical instruments. Many factories making mid-grade instruments of all sorts.

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Thanks Jim and "Fretted"

    I did look up Otto Hoyer. Looks like he was into making violins and bows but made his mark with his violin bows for which he is best known. There is no evidence that he made any mandolins, which does not mean he never made any. If he did, and decided to use a label, I would think he would spell out his name. I thought the "jr" could refer to Otto Hoyer's son, but I'm told by a German friend that German society does not use that notation so common in America.

    It is possible that this mandolin was built somewhere around Markneukirchen, where there were a number of luthiers making mandolins. The simple label with the cryptic "O. H. Jr. B" could have been an attempt to hide the luthier's name due to the prevailing post war political "principles of the regime". All this is speculation, of course.

    If a reader on this forum comes from the Markneukirchen area it would be great to hear from them.
    Peter

  5. #5

    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    This link is for contacting the Museum of Musical Instruments in Markneukirchen. If anyone can identify it, I suspect it would be them. It may be worth asking. http://www.museum-markneukirchen.de/...kt_english.htm

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Thanks, "bingo". Good suggestion! I have contacted the museum and will post here if I get some new information.
    Peter

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    I received this message from the museum. Can someone translate, please?

    Hallo Peter, leider habe ich auch keinen Hinweis auf den Hersteller anhand der Fotos finden können. Vielleicht stellen Sie Ihre Anfrage einmal in unser Forum, dort gibt es einige Experten, die Ihnen eventuell weiterhelfen könnten. Viele Grüße aus Markneukirchen.
    Johannes Meinel
    Peter

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    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by PeterL View Post
    I received this message from the museum. Can someone translate, please?

    Hallo Peter, leider habe ich auch keinen Hinweis auf den Hersteller anhand der Fotos finden können. Vielleicht stellen Sie Ihre Anfrage einmal in unser Forum, dort gibt es einige Experten, die Ihnen eventuell weiterhelfen könnten. Viele Grüße aus Markneukirchen.
    Johannes Meinel
    Hello Peter, unfortunately I haven't been able to find any hint as to the maker by the pictures. You might want to ask your question in our forum, there we have some experts, who might be able to help you further.
    Kind regards from Markneukirchen,
    Johannes Meinel

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Thanks, Henry. I'm afraid that not knowing German precludes me posting on Johannes' forum.

    Regards,
    Peter

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    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    How nice to have translators on board here! Strong work Henry!
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  11. #11

    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Here's what Google translator does for your first post. It's a free program. The grammar probably isn't perfect but it should convey your question fine.

    .
    Diese Mandoline ist ein Erbstück, das in unserer Familie seit 1953 oder früher gewesen ist. Es gehörte zu meinem verstorbenen Vater-in-law, die wirklich liebte es zu spielen. Ich weiß sehr wenig über sie. Das Label ist unser einziger Anhaltspunkt: Es sagt "made in Sachsen" und "OHJr.B". Sie kann in der Lage, die Dame spielt eine Violine auf dem Etikett Thumbnail zu sehen sein. Die Rücken-und Nacken aussehen wie Mahagoni. Der Klang Tisch abgedunkelt Fichte. Das Finish sieht alt und hat eine Patina von feinen Rissen in der Oberfläche entwickelt. Es sieht gut aus! Der Hals ist gut getragen.
    Die Tuner freuen vergilbt und alt, sind aber alle intakt. Abgesehen von einer fehlenden 5. Bund und einigen alten Saiten, scheint das Instrument fixierbar mit minimalem Aufwand. Die Rosette und andere Dekorationen scheinen sehr bescheiden.

    Ich schätzen eure Hilfe bei der Identifizierung dieser Instrumente Herkunft und alles, was können Sie mir davon zu erzählen.

    Danke,

    http://www.museum-markneukirchen.de/forum/index.php

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  13. #12
    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Timbofood View Post
    How nice to have translators on board here! Strong work Henry!
    You're welcome - Timotheus!

  14. #13
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Google translator works but, the human generosity from Henry speaks far more than the words alone.
    It refreshes some faith in mans better nature.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  15. #14
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Peter, rather than the debatable Google translation I suggest to send this (And I'm curious about any German reactions.):

    Diese Mandoline ist ein Erbstück, das sich seit spätestens 1953 in unserer Familie befindet. Es gehörte meinem verstorbenen Schwiegervater, die die Mandoline wirklich gern spielte. Ich weiß nur sehr wenig über sie. Das Label ist unser einziger Anhaltspunkt: "made in Sachsen" steht darauf und "OHJr.B". Vielleicht erkennt jemand die Geige spielende Dame auf dem Etikett. Boden und Hals sehen nach Mahagoni aus. Die Decke ist nachgedunkelte Fichte. Das Finish sieht alt aus und hat mittlerweile eine Patina von feinen Rissen. Sieht gut aus! Der Hals zeigt Gebrauchsspuren.
    Die Wirbel sind vergilbt und alt, sind aber alle intakt. Abgesehen vom fehlenden 5. Bund und irgendwelchen uralten Saiten, scheint das Instrument mit minimalem Aufwand reparabel. Die Rosette und andere Verzierungen sind sehr zurückhaltend ausgeführt.

    Über Eure Hilfe zur Identifizierung dieses Instrumentes, seiner Herkunft und alles, was Ihr darüber sagen könntet, würde ich mich sehr freuen.

    Besten Dank
    Peter

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  17. #15
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    See post #10
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

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    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Oops, typo in post #14:

    It should read: "..., der die Mandoline wirklich gern spielte."

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Mr. Eagle, your kind help is much preferred to my Google translator. Thank you.

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Thanks all. Henry, I think I will try to post my question on Johannes' forum - if I can find it. Can any of you find it and post a link here? It is really good to have a translator like you on this forum. Thanks very much!

    Best regards,
    Peter

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by PeterL View Post
    Thanks all. Henry, I think I will try to post my question on Johannes' forum - if I can find it. Can any of you find it and post a link here? It is really good to have a translator like you on this forum. Thanks very much!

    Best regards,
    I'd be glad to help. Just let me know what they write - here in the forum or via pm.

  25. #21
    Registered User Martin Veit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Hmm - maybe it isnt O.H: jr B but O.M. jr ?

    My guess is, that there is a connection to the menzenhauer-schmidt company.

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    Default Re: Please help identify this old mandolin

    Thanks all. I did check the manufacturer's/luthier's name again. It is O.H.jr.B. There is period between the letters, with no spaces. Martin, if you have other resources, please follow up. Does menzenhauer-schmidt still fit with the above confirmed name?

    Thanks to your help I was able to register and post (Henry's translation) on the museums forum. When I get a reply I will post new information here. Registering was an interesting experience, with the help of the on-line translator.

    I also noticed that Johannes is a moderator on the stringed instrument sub-forum where I posted.

    Stay tuned....
    Peter

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