~1900 Jupiter Bowl Back Mandolin Natural

Offered for sale:

Circa early 1900s Jupiter Bowl Back Mandolin.

This mandolin is in good to very good condition. The neck is fine and the frets show a touch of wear but plays well. Cosmetically it shows the expected vintage patina. The top has noticeable playing wear, the back shows some marks, the tuners are tarnished, the lining is intact, the binding shows some marks. Overall, it’s in nice shape, especially considering its age.

Like most bowl back mandolins that were built well enough to survive over a century, this Jupiter is alive and resonant with a rich low end.

The Jupiter mandolins are said to have been produced by Lyon & Healy, here is a little background:

George Washburn Lyon and Patrick J. Healy founded the company in Chicago in 1864, after they moved from Boston to start a sheet music shop for music publisher Oliver Ditson. Determining Lyon & Healy's history is complicated because its building and company records were destroyed in two fires, including the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Two smaller fires did little damage to the firm and did not result in data loss. Company letters and trade catalogs don't provide exact dates that would reveal when Lyon & Healy began manufacturing instruments. An article in the Musical Courier states that Lyon & Healy began manufacturing instruments in 1885. Clearly, Lyon & Healy was making fretted string instruments in the 1880s, with Washburn (guitars, mandolins, banjos, and zithers) as their premier line. Today dedicated solely to harp making, Lyon & Healy harps can be found in leading concert halls and conservatories. To serious harpists worldwide, Lyon & Healy represents the highest standards in harpmaking available today.

This mandolin weighs 1.lb., has a 13” scale length and a nut width of 1 1/8”. This is a very playable and collectable instrument, a great piece of early mandolin Americana.

Nice vintage mando. Own a piece of USA mandolin history!

Case not included. Cases and gig bags available separately.

*Please note: we do our best giving descriptions of used pieces. We have found it impossible to describe every mark on an instrument or amp that is not in the "mint" category. Also, what's important to you may not be important to someone else. For example, you may say, "I don't care what it looks like as long as it plays or sounds well." Another person may say, "Body cosmetics are very important to me so tell me about every scratch, nick and blemish." So, please ask the questions that are most important to you. If you ask they will be answered. They are free and there's no limit. Additional photos can also be made available.

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