is this F4 correct?

[slimt]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-190...75v2:rk:2:pf:0

Reason I ask.. its not a 3 point but has a torch and wire Peg head.

[Timbofood]

Looks like it suffered a serious “end drop” fall but, I don’t see anything about the torch and wire to give me pause.

[slimt]

Thanks... when did this F4 Body style come into play for production? I also thought these were a flowerpot inlayed peg head. Im also noticing the non swing arm pickguard clamp as well.. Just curious here thats all..

I got nothing bad to say about it.. I think its neat.. and still learning here.

[Timbofood]

I think someone has replaced the clamp with a violin chinrest style clamp. I can’t answer the year for this particular body design coming into production but, I’m sure someone else can answer that.

[pops1]

The dowel in the bridge to support the finger rest looks like maple and not ebony. Not a deal killer by any means.

[mrmando]

The chinrest clamp would be correct for 1909 or 1910; the cam clamp wasn't patented until 1911. So this could well be a 1909 instrument or close to it. One can ask the seller for SN and/or FON.

If the end crack is the ONLY damage, it can be put right for a couple hundred bucks or less. 'Twould be a bit unsightly perhaps, and it wrecks the collector value, but the instrument could still be a nice player.

It's tempting to connect the end crack with the condition of the end of the case. Like maybe it was sitting in that case for years and came crashing down when someone picked it up to move it.

... Ah, i see the SN is 11050, which according to Spann makes it a 1910.

[mrmando]

Here on Craigslist is another blond torch & wire F4 from 1911:

https://asheville.craigslist.org/msg...714987100.html

[slimt]

The chinrest clamp would be correct for 1909 or 1910; the cam clamp wasn't patented until 1911. So this could well be a 1909 instrument or close to it. One can ask the seller for SN and/or FON.

If the end crack is the ONLY damage, it can be put right for a couple hundred bucks or less. 'Twould be a bit unsightly perhaps, and it wrecks the collector value, but the instrument could still be a nice player.

It's tempting to connect the end crack with the condition of the end of the case. Like maybe it was sitting in that case for years and came crashing down when someone picked it up to move it.

... Ah, i see the SN is 11050, which according to Spann makes it a 1910.

So the F4 3 point I have would of been almost at its end in 1910 and this 2 point carried on . mine is 10392. That one being 11050 a transisional piece. I find that pretty cool.

[G7MOF]

Here on Craigslist is another blond torch & wire F4 from 1911:

https://asheville.craigslist.org/msg...714987100.html

Why does this one have The Gibson logo on it and the OP's posting doesn't?

[slimt]

Why does this one have The Gibson logo on it and the OP's posting doesn't?

The one with the C/L Gibson logo has the flowerpot inlay.. The early one has the Torch and wire. Im guessing theat mandolin is a transisitional ..

my 1910

sellers

my 22

[rcc56]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-190...75v2:rk:2:pf:0

Reason I ask.. its not a 3 point but has a torch and wire Peg head.

Yes, it is correct. Some of the early 2 pointers had the torch and wire. I have seen them in both blonde and black. They can be considered to be rare.

Torch and wire Gibsons of any permutation are not very common, and most that I see have had repaired peghead scrolls.

I have also seen a couple of 3 pointers that had the later style flower pot. Gibson was haphazard about the order in which they used up parts, even in 1910.

And yes, the violin style clamp was used on early elevated pickguards. The originals have a rectangular piece of metal brazed to the chinrest screw to fit on the back of the mandolin.

That is a nice looking mandolin, worthy of being repaired and enjoyed. All the parts are there, and the one piece back is very attractive.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

The Mandolin Archive lists several of those transitional two-pointers with t&w inlay, one of them being a neighboring ser.-#, 11051.

[slimt]

Thanks all.. someone will end up with a Neat F4..

[LadysSolo]

I almost wish I had a spare $2500 dollars - this one is about 2 hours north of me and I could drive up and pick it up, and save myself the worry of shipping...…

[mrmando]

Why does this one have The Gibson logo on it and the OP's posting doesn't?

My mistake ... yes, the Craigslist mandolin has a double flowerpot, not torch & wire. Forgive my hastiness.