Date of Lyon & Healy C mandolin

[girldingo]

Hi all,

I have a Lyon & Healy C with serial no. 450 - does anyone out there have any info on the date of this instrument?

Thank you,
Ilene #

[chinatogalway]

Well, as you probably know there is very little info on the L and H numbers, and that there was a fire that destroyed the records......but I would guess that this is around the 1918-1919 date. Never actually played a C type but they sure do look lovely.

Any pictures?

Hope the above helps

Kieron

[girldingo]

Thanks Kieron - wow, I didn't know there was a fire that destroyed the records. #I thought it might be the teens as it has the longer neck. I'm really enjoying playing it and it does look lovely. I might never play my Lyon & Healy bowlback again. Here's a photo taken from the dealers website.

Ilene

[Bill Halsey]

Agree with 1918. Ck the finger rest to see if it says "Pat. Apld. For" -- or if there's a date.

[manjitsu]

Being a huge L&H mandolin fan and having owned a number of them, I too have always had difficulty ascertaining the exact dates of instruments, and have always heard the tale of the fire that destroyed the company's records.

Recently I discovered this post (made by Keef, who is also a member of the mandolincafe) on a Washburn guitar forum:

"there are a LOT of urban myths regarding L&H. Many unfounded stories circulate, including the 1920s fire."

Interesting!

-Chris

[ejkauf99]

I just had to check the serial # in my model C. Turns out it's 443. I bought it at an antique shop. I picked it up, the shopkeeper said "I want $175. for the banjo!" The rest is history. I almost sold it once, but won't make that mistake again! I'll try to post an image.

[Bill Halsey]

What a lovely long-scale C -- is there a patent stamp on the finger rest? Also, may we see the back?

[ejkauf99]

Here is a shot of the back. The scan does not do it justice. The center seam was repaired before I got it. The finger board is also stamped p.a.f
Ed

[Bob A]

While I too admit to an interest in dating instruments, L&H has been tough. Fortunately, unlike makers such as Gibson, the quality and nature of whose instruments tends to be variable, L&H mandolins of this type (Styles A-C) are all of high quality. The onlt substantial difference is that later mandolins were made with a shorter scale than the early examples; if you have an instrument in hand and a ruler, you're armed with pretty near all you need to know. (Laong scale approaches Gibson 14'; shorter is about 13").