Great American Mandolet ID and Date PLEASE Thanks

[mustar]

Hi

Can anyone help me date the Mandolin which was part of a private collection.

Quite an unusual construction with two sound hole either side of the body.

The Decal on the front reads "The Great American " - Pantent Applied For " Mandolet " .
Plays well with a real sweet tone .

I have searched online and in a couple of reference books but cannot find any mention of a Mandolet .

If anyone does have some information on the model or maker it would be much appreciated.

Thanks
M

[MikeEdgerton]

The Oscar Schmidt Company of Jersey City, New Jersey built a slew of strange instruments, Piano Harps, Guitar Harps, Mandolin Harps etc. in the early 1900's and sold them door to door along with lessons. I've never seen this particular instrument but the label looks very similar to the other Schmidt products and the music on the side would indicate to me that it was probably the same genre only using more of a mandolin base than the traditional zither base on the instrument. The sound holes on the side are unusual for when this was most likely built.

[MikeEdgerton]

Notice the label on this Oscar Schmidt product. The label on your mandolet says "Patent Applied For". I don't think it was ever granted as I can't find it under that name in a patent search.

[mustar]

Thanks for taking the timeout to respond .
I forgot to mention there is an
internal label which reads


" The Great American Music Co -
Price $16

Main Office - 3600 Olive St. St Louis

Thanks again

[MikeEdgerton]

That may or may not mean anything unfortunately. Oscar Schmidt used offices and names all over the country.

I'm not finding any patent information using the name or the address either.

[Jim Garber]

One sold on ebay in August of 2008. Here's the description and some photos. mustar, was this yours?

I would guess this was something supplied with a contract for lessons to learn the mandolin. Possibly it was a design patent. I love that headstock.

ANTIQUE MANDOLIN.

.....vintage mandolin by The Great American Music Co. (St. Louis, MO) This is "the great american mandolet" and I believe it is the student model from the 1910s-1920s era. As you can see , the condition is very good for its age....it is fully intact, sturdy, and playable.

Please look closely at all the photos I have up so you can see the actual condition of this fine instrument....notice the two minor stress cracks on the backside. Take a look at that super cool "clamshell" tail piece.

no reserve !

BEAUTIFUL OLD INSTRUMENT.

MADE IN U.S.A.

[Jim Garber]

I found the patent granted to Harry J. Isbell of St.Louis in 1904. One of their patent advantages was that this would be easier to build than normal mandolins. I assume that they meant bowlbacks but I would also think that there would be flatbacks like these back in 1903 when they first applied for the patent and that there were similar mandolins made back then as well. This resembles Weymann mandolutes.

I hope that helps.

Attachment 165858

[MikeEdgerton]

Looking at two distinct scratches on the side near the music it appears to be the same instrument.

[MikeEdgerton]

I found the patent granted to Harry J. Isbell of St.Louis in 1904. One of their patent advantages was that this would be easier to build than normal mandolins. I assume that they meant bowlbacks but I would also think that there would be flatbacks like these back in 1903 when they first applied for the patent and that there were similar mandolins made back then as well. This resembles Weymann mandolutes.

I hope that helps.

Attachment 165858

Nice find. Probably not Schmidt then, just the same MO right down to the name and label. I wonder how many they made and sold?

[MikeEdgerton]

Here's a link to the patent for anyone that can't get it open.

[Seter]

I wonder how it sounds. Presumably better for the player than the audience. Any chance of a recording?

[Jim Garber]

Here's a link to the patent for anyone that can't get it open.

How strange. Right after I uploaded that pdf I tried and was able to download it. Now it doesn't work. What happened between then and now? I guess the board software doesn't like pdfs?

[MikeEdgerton]

I don't know, I could get it when you posted it, then I couldn't, then I could. I have no idea.

[mustar]

I spent the last year trying to find any information with no joy so the information provided is really appreciated . IT looks to be the same instrument due to the stress repair on the back , I bought it from a private collector who sourced the most unusual string instruments he could find.


I would describe the sound as warm , it is not as bright sounding (to my ears anyway ) as a "standard Mandolin " but its play great and is my go to instrument to sit down and play at home . It is actually quite loud and projects well , am internal pickup has been installed so it can be used live if needed.


Again thanks for the information and pictures as I would be still searching .

[MikeEdgerton]

It may have been the only one made, you never know.

[Jim Garber]

Here is the patent as three jpegs.