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Thread: How many missing Loars?

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    Registered User mandolin breeze's Avatar
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    Default How many missing Loars?

    Was wondering if there is any documentation or educated guesses on how many unaccounted for Loars there might be. A related question, how many F5 Loars were produced and how many do we know exist?

    Trying to estimate my chances that someday a relative may call me and say, "hey, guess what I found tucked away up in the attic"

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    While you're waiting for an answer you might want to take a look at this thread.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  4. #3
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    I think the fun part is that we don’t really know how many were made and how many are out there. Every couple years one comes out of the woodwork that was previously unknown. You just have to keep looking. The more you look the better the chances of finding something. That has been my experience, and true to this subject. It’s like they say with the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play.

    Phil

  5. #4

    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    I believe we are just about to the 300 # of verified Loar signed instruments now.... with estimated numbers perhaps in the mid to higher range 300's.... how many left to find.... ???
    John D

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    One of my favorite found Loar stories is here. Someone reports a Loar with a serial number that is known but hasn't been seen as stolen and tries to cash in on an insurance policy only to have the real instrument pop up on Antiques Road Show with a known history. What are the chances?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    I forgot this link in my last reply.

    http://www.mandolinarchive.com/perl/...dolins.pl?loar

    Phil

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    There has been a lot of Loars that have come out of the woodwork since mid 2004! There has been a few in my own backyard in western Pennsylvania over the years. The 800 dollar 1923 F-5 in around 02 about 30 miles away, close to Erie PA. Lots of oil $/old $ in these parts. "I sure don't have $ or the luck of finding one" Also many late 20's and 30's F-5's have came out, many aren't in the archives. Recently the Rybka H-5 with style 4 appointments "possibly the first H-5?" and what a deal someone got with that one! and I was told by David Harvey that Rybka insisted on style 5 instruments and there is a Loar mandocello somewhere that was in that orchestra? Don't know if that's been found, Dave didn't think so. Keep looking gentlemen someone has to find them.

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    Cafe Linux Mommy danb's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    The Mandolin Archive
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by danb View Post
    I didn’t realize that there were so many with an unknown date (last stat on the chart).

    Phil

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    All the remaining ones are in my vault, high in the remote mountains of a small European country.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    All the remaining ones are in my vault, high in the remote mountains of a small European country.
    Guarded by gnomes?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    So Loar left Gibson in 1924, is that correct?

    Any ballpark what a '26 F-5 would be worth?
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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by Verne Andru View Post
    So Loar left Gibson in 1924, is that correct?

    Any ballpark what a '26 F-5 would be worth?
    40-50G on a good day!

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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    There are two undocumented Loars in a gun safe in Alabama. I don't know the dates. Both flowerpots. One has a darker sunburst.

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    As I've said there are loads of Loars and post Loar F-5's thru the early 40's that are out there that aren't in the archive that are obscure and not many are in the know!

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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by bluegrasser78 View Post
    40-50G on a good day!
    Thanks. I met a guy at an unrelated event on the weekend. Says he has a "barn find" '26 Gibson mandolin but doesn't know anything about it or mandos. I've asked for pics. If he wants to sell, where's the best place to point him?
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    bass player gone mando
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    While you're waiting for an answer you might want to take a look at this thread.
    the intriguing part of that thread to me ... what happened to the *six* Loar mandocellos. Be awesome to have one of those.
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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Yes those Loar mandocellos sure look neat and they're out there somewhere? I'd have better luck getting hit by lightning than stumbling across something like that! Every year it seems some unknown Loar or post Loar comes out of the woodwork and to me even the later F-5s are fascinating when they surface, some are really great instruments granted they're not built with the great care Loars were built but some really outshine others. And I have a thing for those old block inlay 5's!

    There also is the strange prototype Gibson's, the ones that come to mind was that real wide bodied natural finish F-5 that David Harvey used to play and that one late 20's A with F-holes and 2 extra coma type holes that is shown in Players Vintage Instruments museum page very I'm sure there are more prototype Gibson's out there.

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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by bluegrasser78 View Post
    Yes those Loar mandocellos sure look neat and they're out there somewhere? I'd have better luck getting hit by lightning than stumbling across something like that! Every year it seems some unknown Loar or post Loar comes out of the woodwork and to me even the later F-5s are fascinating when they surface, some are really great instruments granted they're not built with the great care Loars were built but some really outshine others. And I have a thing for those old block inlay 5's!

    There also is the strange prototype Gibson's, the ones that come to mind was that real wide bodied natural finish F-5 that David Harvey used to play and that one late 20's A with F-holes and 2 extra coma type holes that is shown in Players Vintage Instruments museum page very I'm sure there are more prototype Gibson's out there.
    I resemble everything you just said

  24. #20
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Guarded by gnomes?
    By orcs, actually. But the gnomes are useful for feeding the orcs.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

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  26. #21
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by Verne Andru View Post
    Thanks. I met a guy at an unrelated event on the weekend. Says he has a "barn find" '26 Gibson mandolin but doesn't know anything about it or mandos. I've asked for pics. If he wants to sell, where's the best place to point him?
    So how would he know it's a '26 if he doesn't know anything about mandolins?

    If he turns out to have a real '26 F5, you should point him to a heavy hitter like Gruhn, Carter, Retrofret, Larry Wexer, Elderly, Gryphon, Fred Oster et al.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

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    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by Verne Andru View Post
    Thanks. I met a guy at an unrelated event on the weekend. Says he has a "barn find" '26 Gibson mandolin but doesn't know anything about it or mandos. I've asked for pics. If he wants to sell, where's the best place to point him?
    Point him to the MC. Pics coming?

  28. #23
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Might that 26 be an A, F2 or F4 model or have we determined it's an F5?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  29. #24

    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    I met him at a busy and unrelated trade show - his wife had a table next to me - so it was just quick banter between attending to attendees.

    Not sure how he knows it's a '26. When I asked him if it had f holes or oval he didn't understand the question until I explained the difference, then stated it is an f.

    He promised pics once he's back home from a bit of travel. Other than that you folks know as much as I do but I'll keep you posted if anything develops.
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  30. #25
    Fiddler & Mandolin Player Dave Reiner's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many missing Loars?

    Quote Originally Posted by bluegrasser78 View Post
    40-50G on a good day!
    A good day for the buyer, perhaps. Seems low for a '26 Fern in VG-EX condition considering what I've seen offered recently from private sellers. Of course, price usually depends on condition, sound, provenance, and seller's sense of urgency.

    Dave
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