Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Posts
    58

    Default Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    I noticed an appraisal of a c. 1910 Larson Brothers harp mandolin on this episode of Antiques Roadshow from 2019. The discussion of the instrument begins around 35:00.

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to jelhai For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,283
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    I saw that last night. It was pretty cool. It got valued for more than I would have expected.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  4. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,863

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    More than I would have expected as well.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  5. #4
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,618

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    Cool mandolin, I wish they would have shown the rosewood back.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  6. #5
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,071

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    .. [duplicate]

  7. #6
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,071

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    Antiques Roadshow has been known to be quite generous in their valuations of musical instruments.

    These are indeed pretty rare, but not unheard of. At least a couple have come to my attention over the years-- perhaps at Intermountain Guitar and Banjo and/or Fred Oster's Vintage Instruments. They were priced quite a bit more modestly.

    Aha-- I just looked at some sold listings on gbase.com. Intermountain sold a Larson-made Dyer harp mando a while back with pearl trimmed top, vine inlaid fingerboard, and vine inlaid pickguard at an asking price of $3950. Iirc, that was within the last 3 or 4 years.

    The fancier Larson harp guitars are another story. A really clean upper-line model harp guitar might bring over $10,000.

    Although these are certainly interesting instruments, I think I'd much rather play one of their standard cant-top mandolins without the "harp" feature.
    Last edited by rcc56; Aug-30-2022 at 9:14pm.

  8. #7
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,283
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    ARS has used Philly's Fred Oster of Philadelphia Vintage Instruments before. His valuations always have seemed reasonable and his shop isn't just old Gibsons. I was especially surprised at the valuation given it's condition (scratched up by the strings and the soundboard cracks. Further, it wasn't built by Knutzson, rather was a licensed to Larson Bros and others of theirs (in better shape) sell for 1/3 of the $7K valued here.

    Of course, I am not by any stretch an authority on the valuations of old mandolins and the Classifieds here don't see these rare hens teeth often either. I think the high value lies mostly in it's rarity rather than any acoustic value.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  9. #8
    Registered User Gregg Miner's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    One small detail...it's the mandola. One of the 5 known - see my article here: https://www.harpguitars.net/history/...-Miner-web.pdf

  10. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Gregg Miner For This Useful Post:


  11. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Posts
    58

    Default Re: Larson Bros. Harp Mandolin on Antiques Roadshow

    Fantastic article – thanks much.

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •