Lyon & Healy (?) 'improved ----bus'

[setfit]

I've had an old bowl back mandolin for about 30 years. Recently one of the tuning gears developed a crack and now slips. While looking for a replacement I found this site and mention of an "Improved Jupiter."
I find no mention of Lyon & Healy on mine... and inside looks to be the word "Improved" but the next word (below it) is not Jupiter. Can't read the whole thing but it appears to end with the letters 'bus'.

the tailpiece says PAT. MCH.10.91 which I think means Patented March 10, 1891.


any thoughts?

[Jim Garber]

Jupiter was one of Lyon & Healy's budget lines. Your photos are way too small to tell you anything of value. I have a feeling the original tailpiece was replaced. Post larger and better photos plus ones of the back. This one that Elderly had way back in 2005 looks similar to yours.

[allenhopkins]

Improved Columbus, perhaps? The Mugwumps index lists "Columbus" as a "Lyon & Healy trademark," and L & H used the "Improved" prefix for their Jupiter brand.

[setfit]

thanks for the comments.

[setfit]

very helpful, thank you.
there's a youtube video of a Columbus and it sure sounds like mine. but my headstock is blond, not dark, and the back is all the same color.
the Mugwumps index says circa 1892, which does match up with the tailpiece patent date...
The other gent suspects that was replaced and it well could have been.

[Bruce Clausen]

1892 sounds like the right year for a Columbus model to come out.