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Thread: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

  1. #1
    Registered User Cary Fagan's Avatar
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    Default Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    I recently picked up this swell photo. A style B, I believe. It's a postcard photo; nothing on the back unfortunately.Click image for larger version. 

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    Cary Fagan

  2. #2

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    That's a great photo- they are gazing almost 100 years into the future! I am wondering if the guitar is also from Lyon & Healy or possibly Regal. I bought what purports to be a Style B circa 1924 late last year. However, it has some differences to the norm. I want to get it to my repair man as it is set up as a left hander. When he has seen it and answered some of my questions, I will post it here and see what folk think. Unfortunately, he has been ill and has not got the all clear to resume toiling over sick instruments. He was going to make some mandolins but I assume that's some way down the line- he measured up my A2.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    The guitar is most likely not an L&H guitar. The position marker at the 10th fret would point elsewhere.

    http://chasingguitars.com/harmony-history/
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  4. #4
    Registered User Cary Fagan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Will be interesting if someone can identify the guitar.

    And what's more, who made their matching pinstripe suits? Which indicates that they were likely a performing duo.
    Cary Fagan

  5. #5

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Cool photo!

    I played an excellent condition 100 year old L&H style B the other day at Woodsongs in Boulder. It was great! It was bested by the 103 year old L&H style A that was hanging beside it.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Quote Originally Posted by Cary Fagan View Post
    Will be interesting if someone can identify the guitar.

    And what's more, who made their matching pinstripe suits? Which indicates that they were likely a performing duo.
    The guitar could be Oscar Schmidt, Harmony or any number of other builders that followed the mandolin 10th fret marker. The pyramid bridge might be an indicator. I don't know when Harmony flattened theirs out. The suits are probably Sears Roebuck
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  7. #7

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Yes, that pyramid bridge is wrong for L & H but was used by Regal- and others.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    The fret marker is the first place to start, then the bridge. I think Regal and L&H both used the 9th fret marker position. I don't have all my reference stuff available here.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  9. #9

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    This is the 1916 Supertone ad for the university named guitars. The Yale might be a contender. This was about the time that Sears, Roebuck bought Harmony but that does not necessarily mean this range at that time was made by Harmony. However, the two least expensive guitars have those bridges that look like the metal bridges seen on some Harmony made guitars about this period. Then one has a flat pyramid "Chicago" bridge- the Harvard.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  10. #10
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Supertone would be a logical answer. Then the question becomes who built it, Oscar Schmidt or Harmony and that's the tough one to answer. Both used that fret position marker. I think you're right about the model.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  11. #11

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Yes, I got lucky- I had saved that ad a while back and it just crossed my mind that the "college" series might just be worth looking at. I also revisited another page from that 1916 catalogue that shows a mandolin very similar to that mystery mandolin that just might have been made by Oscar Schmidt- and like this guitar above, nailing the maker is still a little uncertain.

  12. #12
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    If you've got ads feel free to put them in the Ad Social Group.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  13. #13

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Sadly, a big computer disaster a few years back destroyed my archive which had a few ads. However, I had not realised there was a category here where they are posted. If you could post the link I will archive it for future use.

  14. #14
    What, me practice? Jim P.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Note the mando player using the so-called 'Monroe' strap placement - over the right shoulder. And no hat to cause that.

  15. #15
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    The Social Groups are under the menu item Learn/Listen if you're looking at the full websoite:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/group.php

    The Vintage Ad Group is at:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/group.php?groupid=98
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  16. #16
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim P. View Post
    Note the mando player using the so-called 'Monroe' strap placement - over the right shoulder. And no hat to cause that.
    Actually this player was using the Marvin V. Frubbish strap placement, named after the guy he learned it from.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  17. #17

    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Thanks, Mike. I have added three- one by mistake but I don't think it is already posted. I will save that link and if I find any others- and I did have others which I lost, I will add them as I go along.

  18. #18
    Registered User Cary Fagan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vintage photo of a Lyon & Healy two point

    Looking at the Washburn book, I see that the mandolin has the headstock commonly called "art deco." It was introduced in 1920 or after (replacing the "stairstep" headstock), which narrows the date of the photo a little.
    Cary Fagan

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