Lyon and Healy compatible tuners

[Hammerdigit]

My wife recently was given her father’s early 20th century Lyon and Healy bowl back mandolin (very basic model). The instrument is sound and has no openings but the tuners were sloppy. I removed them, disassembled, cleaned, and oiled them and it appears the slop has been taken out of them. If I find that is not the case after restringing is there a drop-in substitute for these tuners or will I have to fill and drill for a new set?

[William Smith]

Check evilbay AKA "ebay" there is always a good selection of original tuners be it Bowlback to Gibson and others!

[MikeEdgerton]

Post a picture, they changed over the years.

[Hammerdigit]

Here’s a picture of the tuners. I’d prefer to replace them with newer manufactured tuners if it’s possible.

[rcc56]

Mandolin tuners were made with 2 common post spacings: 15/16" and 29/32". The best way to determine what you have is to measure from a spot on the first tuner on the plate to a corresponding spot on the last tuner on the plate. If you come up with 2 13/16" [slightly over 2 3/4"], than you will have to use the Stew-mac #2505 or 2506 Golden Age restoration tuners. If you come up with 2 23/32" [slightly under 2 3/4"], just about any modern replacement tuner [Grover, Schaller, Gotoh, etc.] should work.