Here's an Orville Label Mandola a friend of mine over here in the UK recently acquired from an eBay auction. Serial is 3063, and it's suspected that Gibson serialization starts at 2500. That would put this in the 1903-1906 range.
Lots of interesting stuff to see, but check out the size of the neck joint especially! That's all hollow space on these beauties.
Dan, here's the earliest known one from when Orville started the Stradolin Co. #One of the first instances of #"pre-lawsuit" mandolins. #Of course, Gibson took offense when he put his last name on the headstock, thus the lawsuit. #The Japanese, in the 70's and 80's, had known of this lawsuit, so they made up fake names, like "Ibanez" "Alvarez", etc.. so as not to make the same mistake poor Orville did, who was sold into slavery to the Athenians to pay for his mounting "post-lawsuit" debts.
Of course, the Japanese were later sued for using mother-of-toiletseat, which Gibson owned the exclusive rights to until 1996, when they were counter-sued in a class action suit by the Chinese, but that's another story...
Here's the photo
heh, that's not even a stradolin
The Gibson mandola looks like a good example of form following function. The higher frets look very accessible. It also appears to be refretted.
Does this sound as good as it looks?
Wilson
Haven't heard it yet, though the early orvilles tend to fall in-between bowlbacks and flatbacks soundswise.. ie the good ones are still somewhat quiet and not to the general taste
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