Re: Please help me determine some history and instrument value
Well, a great way to start would be to post some photos.....
Despite some misinformation proliferating on the web, your Victory was likely not made either by the Larson Brothers or by Martin, but probably by the Vega Company out of Boston. Probably ca, 1900 +/-
Don't be disappointed, Vega made excellent mandolins under their own label, some of the best American-made mandolins of their era.
There are more misattributions of "Larson-made" mandolins than splinters from the True Cross. There's a cottage industry to it with an attempt to inflate prices. Count me as the lead Doubting Thomas.
Martin did make some mandolins for Ditson, in both bowlback and flatback design. Their distinctive shapes--the same as Martin used for their own instruments--make the ID quite straightforward. I have seen more Martin-made-Ditson-labeled flatbacks than bowlbacks, btw.
Attached are a couple photos. The body and headstock shapes are clearly distinct. The first is a Ditson "Empire" made by Martin. It looks just like a Martin. This was part of the US Hegemony series: The Conquerer, Empire and Victory mandolins that Ditson sold. The second photo is a Vega -- or possibly Lyon and Healy -- made Victory.
Complications arise because Ditson jobbed these mandolins out to a few different makers. Your photos will help folks make a call.
The value / price range is unfortunately askew. Ditson sold a lot of these so there seem to be many available and not a large market. Everything depends on the playability and not necessarily the lookability. Again, if you post some images it would be helpful to ascertain.
With that in mind: Unplayable, maybe $50. Playable: maybe $350-400. You will see them listed higher than that, but unlikely that they are selling for much more. Which is a pity, as they can be quite nice mandolins.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Bookmarks