Compulsive purchase- Flatiron 1N

[Eric F.]

Don't we have a fondness for Zombies? Ah, the classics.

When it comes to Flatiron pancakes, is there a pecking order that denotes fancier appointments? The use of both numbers and letters confounds me. Primer please.

Higher number = fancier. Letter = type of wood.

1N = Unfigured maple back.
2M Flame or birsdseye maple back.
3M Rosette, flame or birdseye maple back

2K = Flame koa back
3K = Rosette, flame koa back

I once owned a 2MW. Mary Weber told me it meant "western maple."

[fatt-dad]

Don't we have a fondness for Zombies? Ah, the classics.

<snip>

Just a friendly issue about, "Zombie." There is something about this thread that is basically unique. It's had bouts of activity on a fairly regular basis for the last 13 years! You can check, but to my knowledge all you'd ever want to know about Flatiron, "Army-Navy" mandolin-family instruments are found herein. Fun stories throughout the years.

I think of a zombie thread as something that's popped up after years of abandonment.

That is not this thread.

(I'm being a pedant and mean no ill will.)

Kind regards!

f-d

[Jim Garber]

I agree with F-D (one of the protagonists of this epic thread) that this is should go down in the archives as one of the classic threads. It is much more cuddly than any "zombie". Reminds me of my early days (pre-Internet) in mandolin-land.

[fatt-dad]

This and the haiku, which has been idle for a spell, but. . . That's a long-lasting thread too!

f-d

[artguy]

This and the haiku, which has been idle for a spell, but. . . That's a long-lasting thread too!

f-d

And the thread stays alive!

I received my NTM Flatiron 1N today and it’s a beauty! It’s an ‘83 and seems like the original strings were still on it (bleccch) No dings or divots or scratches. Just a couple of finish glaze lines when you hold it a certain angle. For 35 years old it looks and plays amazing!

I’ve never seen one before with “the flatiron” just burnished into the back of the headstock. I’m assuming this has to be an early one. No truss rod. Wood nut.

Looking forward to playing the heck out of it!!

Kurt

[Eric F.]

Looks sweet. Congrats! Enjoy it. As fatt-dad often says, that can be a friend for life.

[Jim Garber]

The pancake Flatirons started earlier than 1983, I believe as early as 1977. My carved A5-2 was made in ‘83 and was one of the first of those. Not sure when the embossing would have happened, but maybe yours is early and not ‘83?

[fatt-dad]

looks great! Try the GHS A-250s for strings. Their gauges are a perfect match to the spec. (Don't try j74s!)

Enjoy!

f-d

[Zach Wilson]

NMD!! Congrats and happy pickin 🤓

[MikeyG]

The pancake Flatirons started earlier than 1983, I believe as early as 1977. Not sure when the embossing would have happened, but maybe yours is early and not ‘83?

Jim's right (as usual). I have a Flatiron 2 that I believe was built in 1979. The serial number is 7905019. here's a photo of the label:

I think the first two digits '79' indicates the year of manufacture 1979, the next pair '05' refers to the month May, and the final three 019 means this was the nineteenth Flatiron of that month or possibly year. If anyone knows this to be incorrect, please let us know.

MikeyG

[fatt-dad]

Well, this fellow says the first Flatiron mandolins were made in Boulder - mid-'70s.

http://guitars.morrisonprairie.com/Boulder.html

f-d

[Jim Garber]

Well, this fellow says the first Flatiron mandolins were made in Boulder - mid-'70s.

http://guitars.morrisonprairie.com/Boulder.html

f-d

Thanks, F-D! I never heard of Charles Morrison and did not know that he was the originator of the Flatiron mandolin. I knew of them later when Mandolin Brothers first carried them in NY.

[multidon]

Just out of curiosity, does this thread set some kind of record for the longest lasting thread, the most replies, or the most views? If not, what thread beats itin those categories?

[pops1]

Just out of curiosity, does this thread set some kind of record for the longest lasting thread, the most replies, or the most views? If not, what thread beats itin those categories?

I know it won't make the longest lasting, but maybe the most replies and views, is the thread about Blue Chip picks.

[jefflester]

Just out of curiosity, does this thread set some kind of record for the longest lasting thread, the most replies, or the most views? If not, what thread beats itin those categories?

Dunno about oldest in terms of time, but in terms of replies and views I think this is the winner:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...ns-in-progress
Replies: 8,248
Views: 1,836,562
330 pages
(as of 1/17/2018 3:30 PM West Coast)

[NJBENNY]

<Removed by Moderator. Please limit commerce to the Classifieds. Please take some time to read the posting guidelines.>

[fatt-dad]

today, I say farewell to my 1N. . .

Baby girl is getting married tomorrow and tonight at the rehearsal dinner the pancake will be bestowed to the future son-in-law.

I'm sure it'll show up at the beach. I'm certain he'll use the A250's included in the deal. Heck, he's getting a TF140 too!

I already know he likes it! He has already had his fingers on it on prior beach trips.

Not bitter sweet at all! I'm really tickled.

Vicariously, through this thread and knowing its whereabouts, I'll always be a pancake fan. Thankfully, I have other mandolins and a compulsion to look at the classifieds!

In the words of a famous statesman, "I'll be back!"

f-d

[Jim Garber]

Just think, F-D: even if you no longer have your Flatiron, you will always be an compulsively integral part of the compulsive legacy of this compulsive thread.

[fatt-dad]

. . . And he liked it! along with my Dad's slide rule tie clasp. Yeah, how often do you see those?

f-d

[MikeEdgerton]

Just think, F-D: even if you no longer have your Flatiron, you will always be an compulsively integral part of the compulsive legacy of this compulsive thread.

Are you sure? You might just think that's true.

[Nathan Sanders]

Oh wow, fatt-dad, at least the pancake is still in the family. I bet you get another sometime though. Maybe I will even sell you one sometime, as I still buy and sell them now and then. Congrats!

[JeffD]

Just out of curiosity, does this thread set some kind of record for the longest lasting thread, the most replies, or the most views? If not, what thread beats itin those categories?

Not even close. Women with Mandolins, Post a video of yoursel, post a picture of yourself, show us your instrument, they all have more replies.

And Women with Mandolins, no surprise, has almost a million views. Mandolins in Progress has almost twice that.

[MoreThanQuinn]

What is the going rate for a flatiron 1n these days?

[Chris Daniels]

What is the going rate for a flatiron 1n these days?

$400 to $700

C.

[fatt-dad]

Oh wow, fatt-dad, at least the pancake is still in the family. I bet you get another sometime though. Maybe I will even sell you one sometime, as I still buy and sell them now and then. Congrats!

hit me up! I do prefer the 5-latch cases though and they are sort of hard to find!

f-d