I have in my possession a Epiphone Windsor model mandolin from around 1929.have not found any photos or heard of anyone owning one of these. I need more information about this mandolin. I feel it is rare.
I have in my possession a Epiphone Windsor model mandolin from around 1929.have not found any photos or heard of anyone owning one of these. I need more information about this mandolin. I feel it is rare.
Can you post a few pictures of it?
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Thanks Mike for the links. It looks like the headstock is the same or similar to the headstocks used on the Masterbilt guitars (and the mandolin prototypes discussed recently).
Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band
majicfingers,
Look for a serial number inside the body of the mandolin (usually the f-hole on the bass side). It will be either written on the label (along with the model name) or stamped into the back just below the label (if it's stamped, it will probably be a four-digit number). The serial will help determine the year the mandolin was made.
How exciting. It sounds like you have a rare and valuable instrument.
I'm sure many folks here would appreciate seeing pictures, and hearing any stories you can share about this mandolin's history.
wow...great! Yes please post some pic's and/or a sound clip. I had the chance to acquire one of those a few years back and didn't...I regret it now of course!
Look up (to see whats comin down)
Here are a few photos.
I included a photo of the label inside.
Wow, Majicfingers, that's a beauty! That serial number puts the year at 1941 (according to most sources), and that's consistent with the 'center-dip' headstock. Looks like you've got Windsor #4; congrats! And please post more pictures!
And it's electric to boot. If you're looking to have it appraised for insurance purposes you might want to contact George Gruhn at www.gruhn.com. If you're looking to consign it for sale there are others you can contact as well. Mr. Gruhn will charge for his services but he will be able to provide you with documentation in the event of a loss.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Wonderful! Thanks so much for posting the photos.
Best wishes, and welcome to the Cafe.
You certainly know how to make an entrance!
I love the leaf and vine inlay on the headstock, the shape of the finger rest and the closed scroll. Very nice, very interesting. Certainly a rare instrument. Now we want to know what it sounds like.
Jammin' south of the river
'20 Gibson A-2
Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Guitar
Penny Whistle
My albums: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?u=7616
just when you thought you have seen them all
thanks for the pictures !
Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues
My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH
WOW!!
I heard a story a few years ago about one of those being found, but I've never seen a photo of one before.
Look out-Grisman will be calling you about it soon!
"it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters
I thank all of you for the responses. My father still plays it. I will try to get some sound up. There are several holes in the face when the pick-up was installed.Besides that it is a beauty.Any information can be sent to my e-mail address at
larry_groobee@yahoo.com
It is for sale as soon as I have it appraised.
It is all very exciting. It is interesting that my Dad was know as
" Magic Fingers Morgan and his Magnificent Mandolin "
I guess they were right.
More photos....
Forgot these...
Well, I can see why so few of these exist.
The binding guy had to be institutionalized after he did a few of those scrolls.
"it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters
Thanks for the pics, majicfingers! Can you tell us a little about your father and the mandolin? I'm assuming he's retired; did he perform solo or was he part of a band?
I have come across an Epiphone Windsor, "A" style. Looking for any information and interest that people have in these. It is a 1932. I know there has been threads in the past about values and so forth, but those threads are off-limits now, at least to me.
So, ironically, I just heard an interview with Grisman, who was looking for one of these for years and years. I gather he even begged for leads on them in the liner notes for the first Tone Poems release. He's got one now, but if he couldn't turn one up for looking, there can't be many of them out there. Congrats.
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I wonder if the pickup is factory added or later added. Usually these were added later by the owner. That's a really nice one.
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