Found a Mandolin Need Help with Label

[KayZee]

Hello, I am new to the forums, and not a mandolin person. I have recently found an old mandolin though and am interested in researching it. Can anyone give me some information on this label? It's not in good condition and If not worth repairing or parting out (nice tuners), I will repaint it in my own artistic style, add some strings and sell it as an art piece. I like repurposing things, but also like to know the background. Thanks for helping. I hope the photo uploads.

[allenhopkins]

Pics of the instrument itself would be more helpful. I'm guessing it was made by Joseph Bohmann, since his labels often featured his picture, and what's left of the image there looks a lot like the portrait shown on this harpguitars.net history page. You can read a lot about Bohmann and his instruments there. Bohmann's labels often boasted about awards he won at Paris expositions, and that's part of the surviving text here.

Again, post some instrument pics, and I'm sure some Cafe cognoscenti will have lots of info. As to painting and "repurposing" (shudder), well, Bohmann was a respected and quite idiosyncratic builder, and even a relatively poor condition mandolin of his manufacture, might have some collector value. I'd consider this before turning it into a planter for your philodendron.

[MikeEdgerton]

That is indeed Joseph Bohmann. If you Google Joseph Bohmann label and then select images you'll see several examples.

[EdHanrahan]

... As to painting and "repurposing" (shudder), well, Bohmann was a respected and quite idiosyncratic builder, and even a relatively poor condition mandolin of his manufacture, might have some collector value.

The not-necessarily-derogatory term of "wall hanger" implies that, to many of us, it's a substantial piece of art, and of history, exactly as it is right now.

[KayZee]

Thanks so much for all the information. I googled Joseph Bohmann, very interesting. I didn't find a label like this one with the info above the photo, but I see he liked his image. Yes, very interesting. I have added some more photos, hoping you will see repurposing is not attacking a real beauty. But...

[Jim Garber]

Post some pics of the mandolin so we can get an idea of what would be needed to make it playable or whether it is worth it. Some Bohmann mandolins have sympathetic metal rods inside (patented) and early style Handel tuners. It sound like your may have the Handels.

Unless you do find a Bohmann collector, I can't imagine that you will get all that much money for it but it might be worth selling it to someone who may appreciate it and buy some art supplies with the proceeds. BTW the classifieds here at the Cafe are an excellent place to list.

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Whoops! You beat me to it. The bowl looks fine and there are Handels -- unfortunately they are tuners meant for bowlbacks or that one in particular -- later ones that Gibson used are worth quite a bit on the market. The tops needs significant work fixing cracks and replacing the pickguard, fretboard and pearl inlays. Is that bridge glued to the top?

You might find some budding luthier who would take it on but i have a feeling that to truly restore it would cost more than it is worth.

[KayZee]

Jim, what are handels and luthier? The tuners, are they not the right ones for this mandolin? If the bridge is the long black piece, it looks to be glued, but i don't really see any glue. If I make it a colorful art piece, I will be removing the tiny squares of mother of pearl. Would it be worth putting them on the classified for a restorer? or are they easy to make? I am not so interested in the value, just in passing them along. Thanks. KZ

[Jim Garber]

Handel tuners are the ones with those little inlays in them. As I noted above, that style of tuner is often found on Bohmann instruments. I can't imagine you would get much money for tiny pieces of pearl. I would sell it or give it to someone who appreciates it as an instrument and who might want to restore an 100+ year old antique. There are other art projects out there IMHO more worthy.

A luthier is someone who repairs or builds stringed instruments.

[KayZee]

Thanks so much. I think I will find it a home as a mandolin.

[MikeEdgerton]

I don't know what you paid for it but the tuners themselves are worth a few bucks.

[Paul Hostetter]

...but the tuners themselves are worth a few bucks.

But they are highly unlikely to fit any other mandolin than that Bohmann, unfortunately. Looks like it's time for a new top and of course a new board, but there's something there to work with.

[Capt. E]

The rosewood bowl appears to be quite a nice one (the more strips of wood the better on these bowl backs) and the headstock is ornate. This was a higher end mandolin when new and may be restorable, even though the top is in sad shape with lots of missing inlay. However it would probably cost more than the mandolin is worth. Mandolins such as this are pretty common in much better condition and sell for under $300.
A Luthier is someone who builds and repairs musical instruments such as mandolins, violins, and guitars.

[MikeEdgerton]

But they are highly unlikely to fit any other mandolin than that Bohmann, unfortunately. Looks like it's time for a new top and of course a new board, but there's something there to work with.

It's funny, eBay for years was littered with Bohmann's missing the tuners. I had one in about the same shape as this a few years back. It went for around $250.00 when I flipped it. I have no idea what the winner did with it but he told me all he wanted was the tuners. I made him take the whole thing.

[Jim Garber]

Here's a picture of sort of what it looked like. This is a completely over-the-top presentation model but you can see how they used those little pearl bits. Not exactly subtle IMHO. Bohmann was one of the early makers in Chicago but I think his instruments are more interesting for their eccentricity than anything.

Here is the full page from Gryphon's website.

[MikeEdgerton]

Well, he was the greatest musical instrument builder in the world after all.

[KayZee]

Here's a picture of sort of what it looked like. This is a completely over-the-top presentation model but you can see how they used those little pearl bits. Not exactly subtle IMHO. Bohmann was one of the early makers in Chicago but I think his instruments are more interesting for their eccentricity than anything.

Here is the full page from Gryphon's website.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I think the back is very nice and solid, funny the front is so damaged. Jim, I especially liked the photo of a nice one. I guess I will be listing it on Ebay and see what happens.