Looking for info regarding Washburn Model 1923-24 Type G

[jmdebolt]

I inherited a Washburn Model 1923-24 Type G from my grandfather when he passed which had been originally owned by my great grandmother. I was able to get it to playable condition, but was curious to learn more about it. Online searches have so far been mostly non-productive, so I was hoping someone on here may be able to help.

Please refer to pictures for label/serial number and overall size.

Thanks in advance

Jeff

[Jim Garber]

Best source for info on old Washburn instruments is this book: Washburn Pre-War Instrument Styles.

[MikeEdgerton]

Jim is right on, get a copy of Hubert Pleijsier's book. You'll learn more about the company that built it. There's part of a catalog page for that model on page 158. The original price was $20.00. Your pickguard shape is more like the 1925 models by the way. They probably changed after the catalog drawings were made.

[brunello97]

Man, I'm typing slow, so go with Jim and Mike's advice.....

Great story of the hand-me-down mandolin.

I've had a few L+H flatbacks from this era. My take is that by the '20s Lyon and Healy (original makers of the Washburn line) had given up building bowlback mandolins and were concentrating their remaining mandolin energy on their carved top line and these canted top mandolins, probably in competition with the Martin A models of the era and some canted top mandolins Vega was also producing. Not to diss them in any way....the mahogany backed ones are nice (as they are with the Martins) but to my ear the rosewood back models are the real prizes. Much more projection and crisper tones.

The carried these flatbacks on through the '20s into the early '30s--or at least were selling off old stock by then. They went through a dizzying array of model numbers and letters, perhaps as L+H divested itself of the fabrication process and the Tonk Bros. (and maybe others) picked up the Washburn name and production.

Most of anything of historical nature I might offer you has been aided and abetted by Keef's research.

Your best resource is the comprehensive book on Washburn instruments written by our friend Keef Pleijsier. My edition covers the '22-25 era G models on page 153 and 157.

Keef does imply that the 2424 model was renumbered to 2420 in "mid 1921" which doesn't jibe with your label.

Great book, enjoyable read useful resource. Check it out.

Mick

[jmdebolt]

Thank you all for the insight. I purchased the book, so I look forward to learning more about it. Here is the back picture, not sure if it's rosewood or mahogany, but I do enjoy the sound of this mandolin. I has been a nice change of pace from playing guitar.

[Graham McDonald]

Also worth getting would be Bob Carlin's book on Regal instruments, as he is pretty certain that Washburns of that period were made for Lyon & Healy by Regal and the only mandolins that L&H actually built themselves were the carved Styles A,B and C.

Cheers

[brunello97]

Also worth getting would be Bob Carlin's book on Regal instruments, as he is pretty certain that Washburns of that period were made for Lyon & Healy by Regal .....

Bob is calling the (pretty ubiquitous) Regal 2213 what was marketed as the Washburn 2424.

.... not sure if it's rosewood or mahogany, but I do enjoy the sound of this mandolin......

Mahogany.

Mick

[MikeEdgerton]

Thank you all for the insight. I purchased the book, so I look forward to learning more about it. Here is the back picture, not sure if it's rosewood or mahogany, but I do enjoy the sound of this mandolin. I has been a nice change of pace from playing guitar.

It appears to be mahogany and the catalog specs say it's mahogany.

[Steve Ostrander]

What a wonderful heirloom gift from your ancestors!

[Billy Packard]

You say you're a guitar player, humm?

Beware the siren song of the mandolin, it will coax you, tempt you, lure you away from your guitar.

Be forewarned....