Loar's Mando/Viola 70321

[Lorenzo LaRue]

And that must be the Griffith A5 Loar?

That "A" mandolin/mandola has 10 strings.

[BradKlein]

I never knew Teddy Roosevelt played the mandobass!

Just saw this pic on Picker's Supply's Facebook page. It's not one I'm familiar with but it's pretty neat. What a group of instruments with the 10 string mando/viola, a K-5, and a mandobass with a pickguard!

Phil

[mandolinstew]

is that a bow holder on the mandobass?

[Joe Spann]

The photo showing the Gibsonians at the White House was taken on April 22, 1923.

The people in the photo are (left to right) Margaret Lichti, Ethel Johnstone, Jimmy "Jazz" Johnstone, C.A. Templeman and of course, Master Loar. The 1923 Annual Meeting of the Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists was held in Washington, D.C. at the Hotel Raleigh. On the opening day of the convention all the delegates were received at the White House by President Harding.

Joe Spann

[Timbofood]

No, I think it's an arm rest, I have seen other pictures with them in place. I wonder if they were factory options? One of you old catalog hounds may be able to answer that one, please?

[Timbofood]

Thanks Joe, I just had a hunch someone would have that information!!!

[Joe Spann]

Here's another photo taken the same day. Master Loar is in the front row, fourth from the left.

[siminoff]

Joe - great data - thanks!!!… Roger

[shelley.heard]

I have never heard of an mando-bass being played arco. I believe that is an arm rest.

[mrmando]

The arm rest was available on all Gibson mandobasses. Not sure if it was standard or an option. Most of the extant ones today have had the arm rest removed. What's unusual about THIS mandobass is that it also has a pickguard. Never seen that before.

[Petrus]

Now, the closest you can get is a block away and even then, if a group of people started unpacking instrument cases, I guarantee the picture would look more like this:

That's only if you tried to pull out a banjo.

[Tom Cook]

That's only if you tried to pull out a banjo.

PLEASE make the white house Loar photo into a Mandolin Café Tshirt! I will order 6 right now. Thanks

[Tom Cook]

Hi Can I pay for a copy of this photo? How bout tshirts? Thanks tom24cook@gmail.com

[EdHanrahan]

I never knew Teddy Roosevelt played the mandobass!

Sure! Didn't he say something like "Speak softly and carry a big mandolin"?

HEY!! Now there's a caption to go under this picture on the next Cafe T-shirt!!

[trevor]

Re the mandoviola, from Roger Siminoff "It was purchase by the current owner a few years later." Is there any chance of seeing some photos? I would also love to know the scale length..

As to value, it must be priceless? Signed by Loar... owned by Loar and unique...

EDIT: I just went back to the begging of the thread and see that my questions have been answered.

[Timbofood]

I'm in on the t-shirt too!

[Darryl Wolfe]

I submit that the instrument on the left is a mandola...at least that was my first impression

April 22, 1923 was on a Sunday

and some more research says

"One of the most famous early conventions was the 1923 convention held in Washington DC at the historical Mayflower hotel. It was at this convention, that the members were invited to the White House to perform. This concert established the Guild as an elite music organization throughout the United States."

[Ken Waltham]

For what it's worth, I thought it was a mandola too.
Ken

[Timbofood]

I kind of thought it was a mandola not "just" another F-5.
I still want the t-shirt