1900's Carl Fisher Bowlback

[RHDean]

Hope this is the right place, just acquired this mandolin, needs a little work, I've tackeled worse.

[Nevin]

Carl Fischer was a music publisher that had offices and a store at Cooper Square in NYC. I remember going into the store with my brother in the late 70's. I suspect this is a made for the trade mandolin that Fischer put there label on. I also think it likely to be later than the 1900's given the lack of inlaid tuners. Real experts will probably be along shortly.

[DavidKOS]

I have a Carl Fischer labeled bowlback, similar to that one, and the label is a bit different. The back is almost identical as is the peghead shape.

Fischer did not make mandolins, there were jobbed from another maker.

[allenhopkins]

Looks Lyon-&-Healy-ish to me.

[DavidKOS]

Looks Lyon-&-Healy-ish to me.

I've thought so too about mine. I just wonder if there was a NY maker they got the instruments from.

[RHDean]

Lyon and Healy was the maker for Carl Fisher, some even look very similar to American Conservatory, they may have had a hand in a few, no NY builders for them that I've researched. Was told it was 1920's maybe, by one person, another said closer to 1900's due to the label design, I'm not sure, this is my first Mandolin of any kind. Needs a little work, but will be playable again, have to remove the top to seal/cleat a couple cracks, and make a new bridge, while inside I'll inspect the rest of it. Will be a decoration for a while, currently restoring/modifying a Lead Belly 12 string Stella.