H5 Mandola Case question

[MikeEdgerton]

For the Gibson experts out there:

Did any H5 Gibson mandola come with a rectangular Loar style case or were they sold only with the fitted H5 style mandola case?

Asking for a friend...

[rcc56]

I suggest that you ask George Gruhn. He's pretty good about replying to questions of this sort.

[Glassweb]

I've only seen them paired with a shaped case. There may be a rectangular case for a Loar dola... if anyone would own it it would probably be The Dawg...

[craigw]

I also believe the H-5s to have come with shaped cases only. They are hard to come by but Gary Vessel found one on ebay a couple years ago. I had a fitted case custom made by Ameritage a few years back for a pretty penny. At the last NAMM show in Anaheim I saw that Weber had some H-5 style dolas and was told that the cases mighnt also been made by Ameritage.

[MikeEdgerton]

I suggest that you ask George Gruhn. He's pretty good about replying to questions of this sort.

I'm pretty sure there are at least five people on this site regularly that can tell me, perhaps a few more and I don't have to call someone I don't really know.

[MikeEdgerton]

I also believe the H-5s to have come with shaped cases only. They are hard to come by but Gary Vessel found one on ebay a couple years ago. I had a fitted case custom made by Ameritage a few years back for a pretty penny. At the last NAMM show in Anaheim I saw that Weber had some H-5 style dolas and was told that the cases mighnt also been made by Ameritage.

I've only seen them paired with a shaped case. There may be a rectangular case for a Loar dola... if anyone would own it it would probably be The Dawg...

I'm getting the feeling from pouring through the Archive that the shaped case might have been the only one as well. I'm just somewhat surprised there weren't any that mimicked the Loar era cases.

[William Smith]

There is one I know of for certain, a rectangular case that's in the wind! Years ago I heard this story: John Paganoni found a Loar F-5 and a matching H-5 Loar in yes, both in a rectangular double case but he only wanted the Loar F-5 so where is the matching H-5 and rectangular double case? Now there is some more lore of some Loars!
I know we're not supposed to sell here but for historical reference, I have a rectangular M&W case from about 1916 that must be for an H-4? My 1926 F-5 fern fits but is sloppy but looks like room for an H-5 but not sure if it would work as again this pre-dates the F-5/H-5, I don't have an H-5 so don't know the correct specs but I think my case would be too small? I'll see if I can add a photo.

[gweetarpicker]

Here is a 1924 H5 rectangular case, original but was relined a couple years ago.

[gweetarpicker]

Here it was before it was relined.

[MikeEdgerton]

You've made my day, thank you so much. I recognize the original lining.

I love the Cafe.

[William Smith]

Who did the relining of that rectangular H-5 case? Paganoni? That is very nice man! I have some Loar F-5 cases that need recovered but some guys said leave it alone as the interiors are really nice?

[MikeEdgerton]

Bill, have you ever seen cafe member LoudLoar's site for vintage cases?

http://www.stevekirtley.org/vintagecases.htm

Steve also has a Facebook page dedicated to them. It's an excellent resource for history and some repair stuff.

[Glassweb]

There is one I know of for certain, a rectangular case that's in the wind! Years ago I heard this story: John Paganoni found a Loar F-5 and a matching H-5 Loar in yes, both in a rectangular double case but he only wanted the Loar F-5 so where is the matching H-5 and rectangular double case? Now there is some more lore of some Loars!
I know we're not supposed to sell here but for historical reference, I have a rectangular M&W case from about 1916 that must be for an H-4? My 1926 F-5 fern fits but is sloppy but looks like room for an H-5 but not sure if it would work as again this pre-dates the F-5/H-5, I don't have an H-5 so don't know the correct specs but I think my case would be too small? I'll see if I can add a photo.

Nice looking Fern my friend! Looks like one I owned/sold a number of years ago... (sigh)

[William Smith]

Thanks, this early one is maybe the first of the famous small batch # 9140 that shares the same FON# with Bobby Osborne's, Dean Webb, the Earl Taylor and the Jimmy Gaudraeu Fern! It has a very thin lacquer finish compared to the later ones of the same batch?, It sounds phenomenal! Very Loar like-like a 23 IMHO! In looking close I do believe this shares some Loar wood/neck/overlay etc.. Jimmy G's is much later and his has a 3 piece neck so to me that is a 22 type Loar 3 piece neck. Gibson was a factory so I'm sure parts/bodies were laying around to get used up/finished? I believe these early ones are very special.

[Glassweb]

Mine was one serial # away from Bobby O's and sounded fantastic... had a lovely, orange/brown hued finish. Sounded better than most of the Loars I owned...

[William Smith]

Was yours #85252 "Glassweb"? as Osborne's there seems to be a discrepancy on his# in the archive? Or was your # not in the archive? My Dec. 1st 24 Loar is the one right after Osborne's-weird! My Fern is 83793-it was Dick Kimmel's and I heard an interesting story on how he got it back in the late 70's "He moved into an apartment and this Fern in a Loar green lined case was piled up in the middle of a room with a bunch of stuff the other tenets left" WoW

[Darryl Wolfe]

Here it was before it was relined.

This is the only original I have ever seen. Thanks for posting. I do think I heard about this case way back

[Darryl Wolfe]

Was yours #85252 "Glassweb"? as Osborne's there seems to be a discrepancy on his# in the archive? Or was your # not in the archive? My Dec. 1st 24 Loar is the one right after Osborne's-weird! My Fern is 83793-it was Dick Kimmel's and I heard an interesting story on how he got it back in the late 70's "He moved into an apartment and this Fern in a Loar green lined case was piled up in the middle of a room with a bunch of stuff the other tenets left" WoW

84251 F5 Mandolin Fern, dot at third fret, stamp no. 9140, serial no. possibly 84257. Bobby Osborne.

84252 F5 Mandolin Fern, near mint, stamp no. 9140.

[Glassweb]

Was yours #85252 "Glassweb"? as Osborne's there seems to be a discrepancy on his# in the archive? Or was your # not in the archive? My Dec. 1st 24 Loar is the one right after Osborne's-weird! My Fern is 83793-it was Dick Kimmel's and I heard an interesting story on how he got it back in the late 70's "He moved into an apartment and this Fern in a Loar green lined case was piled up in the middle of a room with a bunch of stuff the other tenets left" WoW

mine was #84252

[William Smith]

Thanks guys that's the # I meant to say 84252 instead of what I wrote, 85252-it was early and wasn't paying attention to the keyboard! Nice F-5's all of them!

[MikeEdgerton]

This is the only original I have ever seen. Thanks for posting. I do think I heard about this case way back

So I'm going to guess that is a rare case. Cool.

[Glassweb]

So I'm going to guess that is a rare case. Cool.

with Gibson there's always that exception from the norm... The Griffith A5, that snakehead mandola, this rectangular H5 mandola case... wonders never cease! fascinating stuff...

[William Smith]

Don't forget the late 20's Lil' Pup Mandolin, the late 20's F-4 with elevated board and long neck, oh yeah and the Bellson 21 F-4 with missing body point and longer board, the white top F-2 or 4, the F-4 with the mother of toilet seat fret-board, the Loar Mando-Viola ten 10string with defiantly a Tenor Lute body -them are ones that just came to the top of my head?
I'd lay $ that there are other "unknown" oddities out there from Gibson! I sure wouldn't mind finding one!

I'd like to know the whereabouts of the H-5 with the case that also held the Pag. Loar F-5?

[gweetarpicker]

Yes Paganoni did the relining. Really nice work.

[William Smith]

Paganoni & Sons cases are my favorite cases, I use them for all my vintage and newer F-5's, I've never had a problem with his cases, in any way, his detail is tops in my mind anyway and the closest to the original 20's-30's! If only someone would make the correct Keratal like what was on the original pre-war cases we'd be in business!
I've heard he used to build the most intricate model train miniature sets that would blow your mind as his detail was very realistic. I've never seen any but heard from a pretty reliable source.