Tracking mandolin history

[Steve Mead]

I hear from time to time people saying they tracked the history on their mandolin - built ?, Shipped?, To where? Sold to?.
How would I begin to find out that information on my 50's Gibson. Thanks

[Tim Logan]

I hear from time to time people saying they tracked the history on their mandolin - built ?, Shipped?, To where? Sold to?.
How would I begin to find out that information on my 50's Gibson. Thanks

To backtrack on my Lyon & Healy I searched Skinner auctions in Boston and found it in their archives. Perhaps you may get lucky by trying that route with various auctions.

[mandroid]

I bought a '22 A4 from locals , Was previously bought @ an Estate Sale . He, RIP. was the original buyer.
bought when back after surviving being a soldier in WW1.. 1918 flu, etc ..

A lot of the town caught fire in 1922, so it may have arrived after the rebuilding..


you ever watch History Detectives on PBS ? http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/

[Steve Mead]

That looks cool. I did not know if Gibson had a department that would help with some of the info.

[Dan Adams]

I bought a 2016 Gibson A, in need of some work due to neglect and what appeared to be water damage. I got as much information from the owner as possible. I wrote the info down, along with the repair information, and passed the written information on with the mandolin when it was sold. I guess my own way of re-starting the history. The original serial number was in tact, which helped, but there were a lot of missing years. Now that I recall the story, I should do the same with other instruments I own.

[pheffernan]

I bought a 2016 Gibson A

Did you mean 1916? I don’t think that Gibson has made any A-styles since the flood.

[Jim Garber]

I hear from time to time people saying they tracked the history on their mandolin - built ?, Shipped?, To where? Sold to?.
How would I begin to find out that information on my 50's Gibson. Thanks

If you get access to Gibson log books from that period maybe you could find out some info. Or if whoever you bought it from was willing to share who he/she bought it from and that person... and so on. Otherwise, most of the provenance for fretted instruments except maybe for Loar F-5s or modern makers is lost to most of us. It can be fun to try but don't expect much. If your mandolin is particularly unusual or unique then you might have a better chance asking around at various vintage dealers. Good luck.

[Steve Mead]

Thanks folks, the person I bought it from did not know any past history. Oh well, will make an attempt

[Dan Adams]

1916. What’s 100 years or so?