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Thread: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

  1. #1

    Smile Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    Hello mandolin experts! So sorry if this is spamming your community.

    I have inherited two mandolins from my grandfather. I am a musician myself, but know nothing of mandolins, so I am honestly just looking to auction them off, if they are worth anything (both in playability and cash). It would be nice if someone would give them a new home and some strings.

    I am posting some pictures. The wooden one is cracked (serial# 11323). The other one needs a change of skin (serial #11529-5).


    Can anyone tell me exactly what they are, and what I need to beware of, so I can describe the condition accurately to a buyer on the internet?

    Thank you so much!
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  2. #2
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    You have a Gibson banjo-mandolin (maybe a Jr. model) and an Gibson Army-Navy 'pancake' style mandolin. Both good vintage instruments. You should be able to find quite a bit more info on both using standard search, beyond what you'll learn here.

    That's a particularly interesting metal and wood resonator on the banjolin - I've seen it referred to as a 'Wilmot tone chamber resonator' and it's probably worth mentioning so that the banjo geeks are alerted. I think that it was an after market accessory. And it looks great.
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  4. #3

    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    What value of an army navy in need of repair?
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  5. #4
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    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    The army navy has cracks in the top, I hope there is no string tension on the mandolin. If there is I would loosen the strings.
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  7. #5
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    Keep the army-navy and get it fixed. They're both likely below $1,000.00 - well below in current condition. The army-navy would be fun to keep and you never know? You may decide to give it a whirl!

    f-d
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  9. #6
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    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    The banjo-mandolin might get some interest on Banjo Hangout depending on the size of the body. Might be a contender for a conversion to a tenor banjo. No idea at what value however.

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  11. #7

    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by fatt-dad View Post
    Keep the army-navy and get it fixed. They're both likely below $1,000.00 - well below in current condition. The army-navy would be fun to keep and you never know? You may decide to give it a whirl!

    f-d
    i like the sound of those army navy mandos. a friend played one for years. he inherited it from his great uncle who had kept it well. i would fix it up and keep it.

  12. #8
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    Army-Navy mandolins were issued when the U.S. entered World War I, and discontinued when the war ended. Effectively that means they were made between 1917 and 1918. So that's not a 1920s mandolin. The banjo mandolin, given the headstock shape, probably is from the 1920s. If you can find a serial number or factory order number, somebody will run down a date for you.

    In its current condition I doubt the Army-Navy would fetch more than $300 as a repair project. But it's well worth having a luthier properly repair those cracks with some hot hide glue.
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  13. #9

    Default Re: Two 1920's Gibson Mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Army-Navy mandolins were issued when the U.S. entered World War I, and discontinued when the war ended. Effectively that means they were made between 1917 and 1918. So that's not a 1920s mandolin. The banjo mandolin, given the headstock shape, probably is from the 1920s. If you can find a serial number or factory order number, somebody will run down a date for you.

    In its current condition I doubt the Army-Navy would fetch more than $300 as a repair project. But it's well worth having a luthier properly repair those cracks with some hot hide glue.
    Thanks

    The banjo mandolin has the number #11529-5 on the inside. Is that not the serial number?

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