old bowlback tuners needed

[Dale Ludewig]

I put an ad in the classifieds a week or so ago and haven't made any progress on this problem. So I'll put out a feeler here. I have an old bowlback (The Marquette) in for some work. I think this is a L&H. It needs new tuners. One side has been swapped out years ago. The other side is okay. The owner isn't concerned with authenticity. Neither am I. I'm having a difficult time finding tuners for this. Post spacing is 2 15/16" center to center on the (for example) nutside E to headend A. This makes this post spacing longer than current (not 29/32), but I'm sure it was the standard back then. And I'm sure there's lot's of them around somewhere but I can't find any. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Schlegel]

Unfortunately, even among just L&H instruments, they don't stick to a standard. I hate to tell you this, but you may have an extremely difficult time finding that size, because I've got a lot of bowlbacks, and every one is shorter than modern. Longer than modern is, I fear, quite unusual. I measured about 15 examples, just in case, but my gut feeling turned out right. Generally I could fit the entirety of the the tuners in 2 15/16". Nevertheless, I wish you luck. There's always a chance.

[Jim Garber]

I also have lots of tuners as well but not sure if any will fit. Maybe post a picture of what you have on there that is OK. We can see if anyone can match. I can check the measurements of what I have.

[Dale Ludewig]

Thanks. I'll try to get a couple pictures and more measurements posted later today.

[Dale Ludewig]

I'll see if I can get the pictures uploaded here. Pictures of the mando. Here's the measurements:
outside of posts, outside edges where they come through the headstock: 3.148"
outside posts, center to center, as best as I can measure: 2.95"
Post diameter: .206
Posts, center to center: .987". I measured these on the backside c to c on the worm gears because there won't be any warpage there.
The treble side is original.
Once again, I appreciate any assistance. I have little experience with bowlbacks.

[danb]

Dale- I note with some interest that the ones on the 1902 Gibson serial 2506 appear to be a match for the ones on the bass side of your bowlback.. not that I'm suggesting for a second taking them off the 1902 Gibson, but I do find it interesting how similar they appear!

[Dale Ludewig]

Dan, actually that is the treble side. (You from Australia?)
That is interesting. They look to be a match. And frankly, I'm not sure those are original to the mandolin, but there is a matching "mark" of the same shape as the backplate on both sides. So I assumed those were the originals. The lady that owns this got it at a garage sale about 30 miles from here. I wonder if somewhere in the house is a lost Gibson? Hah.

[Frank Ford]

I'm thinking that Washburn is a perfect candidate for a nice peghead overlay and a set of StewMac's "restoration" gears. . .

[Dale Ludewig]

I'm beginning to think the same.

[Jim Garber]

I agree with Frank. By the time you find a set of tuners that fit you could have replaced them altogether.

Also: this may be a Lyon & Healy product but it is a lower end one and not a Washburn quality. Actually I highly doubt that those bone tuners are the original ones. You rarely see bone at all on American bowlbacks. Most have plastic and the higher end ones have pearl buttons. I would even guess that the plastic button tuners on the bass side might be the original ones.

I assume that the bass side ones are rusted beyond fixing?

[Dale Ludewig]

That's a consensus then. Enough already.
Jim, as far as I know, it is a Lyon and Healy product. The Marquette. I believe that was the first name of one of the Healy family. As to the bass side tuners, they turn freely. But the posts are just long enough to barely get a string into the holes on the front side. I'll tell the customer that we either string it up like this or else plug the holes, a little black overlay, and new tuners. That'll be her call. I appreciate the input from you who are familiar with these.
I also have a unfancy Bohmann here that I'm working on. It must be bowlback month in DeKalb.
Thanks.