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Thread: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

  1. #1
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    Currently in the classifieds here.
    1907 Gibson Three Point F-4 Torch And Wire Mandolin
    The fabled and elusive Gibson Three Point F-4 Mandolin

    "Torch and Wire" Peghead inlay
    Virzi "Tone Producer".
    Original case.

    Mandolin, Style F4. Serial 6329
    Factory Order number: 232
    That is a bit strange since the Virzi was not patented until 1922 and they applied in 1920. I guess someone could have had it installed in the 1920s?

    Nice looking mandolin, in any case—I love the look of those 3-points, especially the torch and wire ones.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Jim

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  3. #2
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    It looks pretty nice

  4. #3
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    I love Virzi's! I sure would like to play this old Torch! I'm not big into oval holes but the Virzi tends to tighten up the top on these/adds tone and gets rid of the usually tubby sound, I had a 24 A-4 snake with one installed and it was great but I love the F-hole sound so it went bye?

    Hey Jim, I thought that Virzi's were first installed on some in 1919? Or they were sent back in 23-24 then installed?

  5. #4
    Registered User TheMandoKit's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Currently in the classifieds here.


    That is a bit strange since the Virzi was not patented until 1922 and they applied in 1920. I guess someone could have had it installed in the 1920s?

    Nice looking mandolin, in any case—I love the look of those 3-points, especially the torch and wire ones.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    If you go to the linked ad, the copy indicates that the Virzi was likely added later.

    Agree with you that it is a looker. Always wanted one... Not sure I would actually get much use out of it, but it would be nice to look at.

  6. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    I looked for additional info. Seller must have added that link after I started this thread.
    Jim

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  7. #6
    Registered User TheMandoKit's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I looked for additional info. Seller must have added that link after I started this thread.
    Yeah, same here. The ad says to click on the picture, but it didn't go anywhere. So I looked at another ad by the same seller, and that link worked, so I searched the site for the 3 pointer. Yeah, I had some time on my hands last night . . ..
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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    Quote Originally Posted by TheMandoKit View Post
    ...Yeah, I had some time on my hands last night . . ..
    time time said old king tut
    is something i ain t
    got anything but


    -- Don Marquis, Certain Maxims of Archy (the literary cockroach), 1927

    I think of this quite a bit, waiting out the pandemic...
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  10. #8

    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    This 1923 Gibson ad says "A deposit of ten dollars must accompany any instrument sent to the factory for installation of the Virzi Tone Producer." So here is documentation that anyone could send in their old mandolin (even a non-Gibson) and have a Virzi installed.

    Steve
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  12. #9
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    That's interesting, the possibility of a Martin or L&H with a Virzi.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  13. #10
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill McCall View Post
    That's interesting, the possibility of a Martin or L&H with a Virzi.
    I think you had to bring a non-Gibson to the Virzi Brothers. Gibson would only install into Gibson instruments.
    Jim

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  14. #11
    Layer of Complexity Kevin Knippa's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    At the end of the add it states Gibson would quote the price to install a Virzi in a non-Gibson instrument on request.

  15. #12
    Registered User Hendrik Ahrend's Avatar
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    Default Re: 1907 Torch & Wire with Virzi?

    Several Loar-signed F5s and other Gibsons were retrofit with a Virzi. In order to do this, they just sawed the back off with a thin saw, leaving the back binding "narrower" than the top binding and thereby eliminating the lower form-fitted joint of the point protectors.

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