Harwood mandolins and guitars

[brunello97]

Please post some photos, dude. This thread is a nice compendium of Harwood instruments and would benefit from the inclusion of yours. I'm sure I speak for others in saying we enjoy seeing it.

If you would like to sell it, you might generate an ad for the "classifieds" section of the Cafe.

Mick

[brunello97]

Beautiful Harwood bowlback on the ebay right now. One of the nicest I've seen:

Harwood bowlback

Nice way to start the day....

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Beautiful Harwood bowlback on the ebay right now.

Looks like it was re- or over-finished. Seller says prob ivory tuners but they look like they were plastic and starting to disintegrate. Those side markers are quite strange. The headstock is reminiscent of Bohmann. There may still be some connection there.

[KanMando]

Very similar to my No. 46 in post #164 in this thread. I referred to the 1895 catalog, and as usual, this bowlback does not conform exactly to the models shown. As I said in post #164, my No. 46 is the only Harwood we've seen that conforms exactly to the model in the catalog. Differences: fretboard inlays, rosette inlays, pickguard. My No.46 does not have the fret indicator inlays in the neck, nor do any of the Harwood mandolins in the catalog. Nice mandolin.

Bob

[brunello97]

Very similar to my No. 46 in post #164 in this thread.... and as usual, this bowlback does not conform exactly to the models shown.

Bob

I know that's right.

How about that nutty scratch plate? I love the top color on these. I had a Ricca bowlback some years ago with almost a similar hue, though with a bit more of an orange cast.

Mick

[brunello97]

Another Harwood bowlback has turned up on the ebay, this time a 12-string (?!)

Harwood 12 string bowl

Looks to be in pretty rough shape.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Just wha6t you need, Mick. A broken 12 string bowlback!

[brunello97]

Just wha6t you need, Mick. A broken 12 string bowlback!

Yikes, no.

These Harwoods grow ever strangelier. I wouldn't be surprised to find out of the 8754 mandolins that were made that there were 8611 different models....

Mick

[Thor Halvorsen]

I have a bowl back that looks like the top farthest left one (hardwood). Curious, I located a number that is written/etched on the brace in the inside of the top of the sound hole, just underneath the fretboard, looks like 1917. Also on the inside face of the bowl against the neck is the trademark triangular stamp, and on the back of where you tune the strings is the numbers 403 20, atop a metal plate on the back of the tuning board which also bears the name harwood.

Mine also has its original case (wanna see pictures?). Thank you for your help too. This is the first older instrument I've now the chance to own and look forward to getting more historical info on it.

Thor

[Jim Garber]

I have a bowl back that looks like the top farthest left one

I think Thor is referring to this photo of my ex-Harwood and a few others.

BTW I sold that Harwood to the prop guy from the Jersey Boys show. I wonder if they still use it. Supposedly it was used in a scene in an Italian restaurant and one of the actors was to play it. I never did see the show. I should have asked for tickets as part of the deal.

[KanMando]

Yikes, no.

These Harwoods grow ever strangelier. I wouldn't be surprised to find out of the 8754 mandolins that were made that there were 8611 different models....

Mick

Well Mick, they made four models of the 12 string:

[KanMando]

I have a bowl back that looks like the top farthest left one (hardwood). Curious, I located a number that is written/etched on the brace in the inside of the top of the sound hole, just underneath the fretboard, looks like 1917. Also on the inside face of the bowl against the neck is the trademark triangular stamp, and on the back of where you tune the strings is the numbers 403 20, atop a metal plate on the back of the tuning board which also bears the name harwood.

Mine also has its original case (wanna see pictures?). Thank you for your help too. This is the first older instrument I've now the chance to own and look forward to getting more historical info on it.

Thor

By all means post some photos.

Bob

[Jim Garber]

Well Mick, they made four models of the 12 string:

Bob: What year is that catalog?

[KanMando]

Bob: What year is that catalog?

Jim - There's no actual publication date printed anywhere in the catalog, but there are several references in the catalog that indicate it was published in 1895. It also jibes with Kansas City newspaper advertisements from that time.

Bob

[Jim Garber]

That would make a lot of sense also since the ostensible connection with Bohmann who was active around that time. The left one definitely looks like his work.

[brunello97]

Well Mick, they made four models of the 12 string:

Thanks, Bob. It is comforting to see that the catalog 12 string doesn't match the one for sale on ebay.....

Jim, I don't see the Bohmann connection. Yet.... But I know better than to doubt you.

This is one of my favorite ongoing threads here.

Mick

[brunello97]

Another Harwood mandolinetto on the ebay:

Harwood Mandolinetto

Action looks pretty dicey, like some top sinkage or neck rotation.

Mick

[KanMando]

Still another Harwood mandolinetto: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-EARL...item461040b56a
This one looks like it's in really good shape.

Bob

[brunello97]

That one does look in fine condition, Bob. Here are some photos of it for the thread compendium. Hadn't really noticed the sharp V profile neck in the previous mandolinetto.

Mick

[KanMando]

My friend and occasional band-mate, Patti Nance, was going through some old photos that had belonged to her parents and had been stored in her attic for eight years. She came across this one and posted it on her facebook timeline. Of course, I recognized the mandolin and guitar right away. The mandolin player is Adolph Steffens, Patti's great-uncle. He was born in 1889 and lived just east of Kansas City. What a great photo.

[brunello97]

Another Harwood bowlback has turned up on the ebay.

In true Harwood fashion, it looks quite a bit like mine, except for the parts of it that don't.

Mick

[KanMando]

I saw this last night, Mick. A low end model as the bowl is not ribbed. The interesting thing about this one is the engraved and dated tailpiece cover. It's the first time we've ever been able to correlate a date and a serial number. Serial number 24558 apparently was built in 1906.

[brunello97]

Or at least sometime before 1906....

Note it still has the Martin-like neck / headstock joint, which later models like mine (SN 30852) do not. Say what you will about the 'unribbed' bowl, this one, like mine appears to be mahogany, which is altogether rare as a bowl making material from my experience. Rock solid to this day. Not a crack or a split to be seen. Curious construction, which is yet another thing which makes these Harwoods so interesting.

Mick

[Bill Snyder]

It looks ribbed to me. I can see glue lines spaced out regularly. The mahogany used just matches up well to the piece to its side.

[brunello97]

It looks ribbed to me. I can see glue lines spaced out regularly. The mahogany used just matches up well to the piece to its side.

Yeah, Bill, mine is certainly 'ribbed' in its construction (as this most recent ebay Harwood bowlback is.) In some lighting it almost does appear solid though, as you said, the mahogany grain blends. I'm impressed with how stable it is, given how many cracks or separations I've come to expect in RW bowls.

Not exactly sure what Bob was referring to when he said 'unribbed' but I guessed maybe alternating rib material or linings or something. A solid carved out mahogany bowl would be something. Something kind of weird, for one.

Mick