Please help identify this old mandolin [Archive]

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PeterL

Sep-17-2014, 12:18am

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,

Jim Garber

Sep-17-2014, 9:09am

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.

Fretted

Sep-18-2014, 4:42pm

Maybe something here:
http://www.mandolinluthier.com/german_mandolin_makers.htm

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

PeterL

Sep-23-2014, 3:48pm

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.

bingoccc

Sep-24-2014, 8:00am

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/english/kontakt_english.htm

PeterL

Oct-02-2014, 3:12pm

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

PeterL

Oct-16-2014, 3:58pm

Hendrik Ahrend

Oct-16-2014, 4:14pm

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

PeterL

Oct-16-2014, 7:30pm

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

Regards,

Timbofood

Oct-17-2014, 8:06am

How nice to have translators on board here! Strong work Henry!

bingoccc

Oct-17-2014, 8:08am

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

Hendrik Ahrend

Oct-17-2014, 12:44pm

How nice to have translators on board here! Strong work Henry! You're welcome - Timotheus!:)

Timbofood

Oct-17-2014, 1:06pm

Google translator works but, the human generosity from Henry speaks far more than the words alone.
It refreshes some faith in mans better nature.

Hendrik Ahrend

Oct-17-2014, 4:12pm

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

Timbofood

Oct-17-2014, 6:56pm

See post #10;)

Hendrik Ahrend

Oct-18-2014, 2:12am

Oops, typo in post #14:

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

bingoccc

Oct-18-2014, 8:11am

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

PeterL

Oct-20-2014, 10:15pm

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,

bingoccc

Oct-21-2014, 9:12am

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

Hendrik Ahrend

Oct-21-2014, 3:55pm

Martin Veit

Oct-22-2014, 3:59pm

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.

PeterL

Oct-23-2014, 3:47pm

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....