Looking for info on "The Adams" mandolin

**Bob Gray** · Jan-10-2010, 2:28pm

I am posting this as a favor for the owner. She is an elderly lady (in her 70's or 80's) who has this old mandolin that has been in her family for over a hundred years. It was played by her late husband's grandfather, which would date it to around 1900 or so. She wants to sell it, but I have no idea what it is worth. Looks to be mahogany back and sides, or maybe birch? The label reads "The Adams - Warranteed." I thought it was unusual in that it looks like a classical florentine style from the front, but does not have the classic bowl-back construction for the back and sides. Probably is playable, but I didn't try to tune it up as the strings may be 100 years old too. There are a few cracks in the back and sides, and one in the heel. She is using it as a wall hanger.

**jeff mercer** · Jan-10-2010, 3:39pm

Bob,

According to the Mugwumps maker list, there was an Adams Bros. & Co in Illinois, in business c.1897 to c.1903. Timeframe seems right, so that'd be my guess.

Hope this helps.

Jeff.

**allenhopkins** · Jan-10-2010, 9:38pm

Here's an Adams Bros. parlor guitar currently at Antebellum Instruments. Same "Warranteed" label. Seems to be decent construction.

Hard to say what the mandolin's "worth" until it's playable. Definitely an "off" brand, but the unusual construction -- "bowl-back" silhouette, deep body, flat-back -- might make it of interest to a collector. (No, don't look at me!) I'd get an estimate on fixing it up, first of all, then put it on the market for several hundred dollars and see what interest is generated. If repair costs are modest or minimal, it will be much more attractive than if it needs a bunch of expensive restoration.

If that pick in the strings is tortoise shell -- well, not supposed to sell it, but it would be in some demand, though it looks guitar-sized-and-shaped...

**Martin Jonas** · Jan-11-2010, 4:13am

I would be rather less optimistic than Allen regarding likely collectors' appeal. This is what Jim Garber has in the past called a "boatback": a simplified construction with the depth of a bowlback but the ease of building of a flatback. I think of them generally as low-grade instruments where corners were cut to keep the price down compared to a "proper" bowlback.

So, it may well sound very nice if and when restored, but I would be surprised if it were to fetch the "several hundred dollars" Allen has suggested, especially if offered unrestored.

Incidentally, "Florentine" is a fantasy description invented by Gibson to refer to their scroll-type F-style flatback designs and has about as much to do with Florence as "Corinthian leather" has to do with Corinth. You're probably thinking of "Neapolitan", this being the dominant design for bowlbacks.

Martin

**brunello97** · Jan-11-2010, 8:43am

I own one of these 'boatbacks' (I love the name) from an unknown maker. I've suspected it may be of Larson origin due to the quality of work and an array of signature details. No real confidence in that however, as suspected Larsons seem to be as widespread as splinters from the True Cross. I have no idea when it was made, but one would guess during the transition period between bowlback and flat or archback construction.

My feeling is that they had more design intention behind them than just cost savings on traditional bowlback: deep body with an more lap-friendly form, nice v-shaped neck profile, the guitar-type neck joint is like a Louisville Slugger. Mine just didn't have any volume or much projection. Rather disappointing, actually. It is out of action right now with a top crack that I need to attend to. I never had anything on it heavier than .09-.32 which might have compromised the volume. I need to get it up and running again. If it is a Larson (no sign of anything like it in Robert's book) I'd be happy, if not, I'm with Martin on the $$ value.

Mick

BTW I miss Ricardo Montalban: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIL3fbGbU2o

**Bob Gray** · Jan-11-2010, 1:19pm

Thanks Guys. The information was very helpful. And I stand corrected on the description, definitely Neapolitan was the word I should have used. My own guesstimate on value was maybe a couple of hundred dollars. Not sure how much you would have to spend fixing the cracks. The ones in the sides and back aren't too bad, but the one in the heel is substantial, allowing the neck to pull away from the body. I also found a picture of another similar mandoin by the same maker on a web site for the Dwight, Illinois Historical Society museum http://www.dwightchamber.net/historicalsociety.html, but it is a fancier model (the fingerboard is covered with pearl and there is an eagle inlaid in pearl on the pickguard). Based on that and the picture of the guitar, it looks like the Adams Bros. were making some nice instruments.

**brunello97** · Jan-11-2010, 6:54pm

I have a couple of Adams Bros. mandolins in my files, one which looks quite (exactly) like the one in the museum, and the other which is very modest. I had assumed that the Adams were vendors and had their mandolins jobbed out of one of the larger Chicago firms. Mugwumps and the museum link suggests that might have had their own firm. In which case the disparity in quality is a bit of a shock. The simpler (older) label also states their Dwight, IL location. It would be good to learn more about the Bros.

Mick