ISO 1885-1900 Italian mando w/Tipaldi Brothers label

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

My Great-Grandfather Dominic Tipaldi headed up The Tipaldi Brothers Mandolin Orchestra in NYC, 1880-1900 and had a shop (Tipaldi Bros., 76 W. 35th Street, N.Y. City) selling imported mandolins, sheet music, etc. Also gave lessons. I have been looking for one of the mandolins they imported from Naples with their own label inside. I once saw one mentioned in a forum here years ago. It would be great to be able to show one to my 90 yr old Dad and have him hold a mandolin his Grandfather had in his shop. My Dad's Dad, Arthur Tipaldi, was also a musician in NYC and Montreal, played banjo and bass. Early 1920s played w/Paul Whiteman and others and had his own band. Was President of the Musicians' Guild in Montreal. Would love sheet music ("Club Music" Published by Tipaldi Bros 244 Sixth Ave New York), recordings, instruments, anything with 'Tipaldi' name on it. THANKS!

I have several photographs of my Great Grandfather Dominic Tipaldi with his mandolin and also with his orchestra. I also have photographs of his son, my Grandfather Arthur (Attilio) Tipaldi, with his banjo and his bands. My Dad played drums, but not professionally.

~Lorraine Tipaldi

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

My Great-Grandfather Dominic Tipaldi headed up The Tipaldi Brothers Mandolin Orchestra in NYC, 1880-1900 and had a shop (Tipaldi Bros., 76 W. 35th Street, N.Y. City) selling imported mandolins, sheet music, etc. Also gave lessons. I have been looking for one of the mandolins they imported from Naples with their own label inside. I once saw one mentioned in a forum here years ago. It would be great to be able to show one to my 90 yr old Dad and have him hold a mandolin his Grandfather had in his shop. My Dad's Dad, Arthur Tipaldi, was also a musician in NYC and Montreal, played banjo and bass. Early 1920s played w/Paul Whiteman and others and had his own band. Was President of the Musicians' Guild in Montreal. Would love sheet music ("Club Music" Published by Tipaldi Bros 244 Sixth Ave New York), recordings, instruments, anything with 'Tipaldi' name on it. THANKS!

I have several photographs of my Great Grandfather Dominic Tipaldi with his mandolin and also with his orchestra. I also have photographs of his son, my Grandfather Arthur (Attilio) Tipaldi, with his banjo and his bands. My Dad played drums, but not professionally.

~Lorraine Tipaldi

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

My Great-Grandfather Dominic Tipaldi headed up The Tipaldi Brothers Mandolin Orchestra in NYC, 1880-1900 and had a shop (Tipaldi Bros., 76 W. 35th Street, N.Y. City) selling imported mandolins, sheet music, etc. Also gave lessons. I have been looking for one of the mandolins they imported from Naples with their own label inside. I once saw one mentioned in a forum here years ago. It would be great to be able to show one to my 90 yr old Dad and have him hold a mandolin his Grandfather had in his shop. My Dad's Dad, Arthur Tipaldi, was also a musician in NYC and Montreal, played banjo and bass. Early 1920s played w/Paul Whiteman and others and had his own band. Was President of the Musicians' Guild in Montreal. Would love sheet music ("Club Music" Published by Tipaldi Bros 244 Sixth Ave New York), recordings, instruments, anything with 'Tipaldi' name on it. THANKS!

I have several photographs of my Great Grandfather Dominic Tipaldi with his mandolin and also with his orchestra. I also have photographs of his son, my Grandfather Arthur (Attilio) Tipaldi, with his banjo and his bands. My Dad played drums, but not professionally.

~Lorraine Tipaldi

[brunello97]

Wow, Lorraine, I am glad you found us here at the mandolin cafe. There are a number of us here (and in the UK and Europe) that are very geekish about the history of old mandolins. Our friend, Jim Garber, is particularly interested in mandolins (and their makers) in his hometown NY area.

I have only a few images from the NY Tipaldis including an relatively okay shot of a label.

I have a single example of a mandolin from I Fratelli Tipaldi (which is clearly an Italian made mandolin) with the NYC address you reference. Unfortunately, it is not complete (tuners missing) and the photos are not so good.

I'm not sure if the NY Tipaldi example is made in Italy or in the US by Italian luthiers. My hunch is the former, but I'm not 100%. It has many details that look Italian on it.

I'll post these now and hope that Jim (or someone else) has something better. We've certainly had the Tipaldis on our radar here--so it is a real treat to have a GGDaughter on hand.

Please post the photos you have of your GGDad and his orchestra. Those will be great to see.

I look forward to this conversation stretching on out.

Welcome to the Mandolin Cafe...

Mick

[brunello97]

Hi Lorraine,

No need to post you inquiry in multiple places here. We Italian mandolin wonks will find it....

I did post a reply to your question in the "Vintage" section.

Let's try to keep the conversation rooted in one place so everyone interested can join in.

thanks,

Mick

[brunello97]

Hi Lorraine,

No need to post you inquiry in multiple places here. We Italian mandolin wonks will find it....

I did post a reply to your question in the "Vintage" section.

Let's try to keep the conversation rooted in one place so everyone interested can join in on one discussion.

thanks,

Mick

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

This is so exciting, thank you sooo much Mick! Their 1894 ad says they sold Italian and American made mandolins. I'll try to get some images on here later today. I am just soooo excited!!!!
~Lorraine

[Jim Garber]

Perhaps one of the moderators can combine all these multiple threads.

I will post a few of the Tipaldi files I have. This one is a presentation model and possibly is of Italian manufacture.

[Jim Garber]

Two interesting mandoliras.

[Jim Garber]

Simple bowlback

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

Wow!!

[Jim Garber]

Lorraine: Does your family have any photos of the old store? There must be some of those, or ads or other artifacts from those years.

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

Jim~

I haven't seen any of the shop, but I do have copies of an ad and some articles. I'll get them on here this evening.

~Lorraine

[brunello97]

I have one Tipaldi Bros. ad in my files. It features a different street address than previous: 238 6th Avenue.

Looking forward to other items you may have, Lorraine.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Here is another ad from a February 1896 literary magazine.

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

Tried to upload images, no luck. Will try again tomorrow...
Thanks for the ads guys!

~Lorraine

[delsbrother]

Do you know what stands at the addresses now? Sometimes visiting those locations provides interesting information. Also, with NYC being one of the most photographed cities on the planet, it's very possible there may be historical photographs that show the shop in some way. It would help if the address was near something else of interest (a landmark, famous address, or even a railway/streetcar line).

[brunello97]

238 / 244 seems to be right around the pretty messy intersection of 6th Avenue (now AotAs) and Houston St. Some vacant lots, newer buildings and a few older ones still existing.

When I get some time I'll have a look at the old Sanborn insurance maps of the city from this era and see what turns up. They are often a very useful resource.

Mick

[JEStanek]

I merged the threads.

Jamie

[brunello97]

I'm home from work with a bad cold and had a chance to poke around a bit on the NYPL maps. Still not done with the exercise, but I did find a few things out.

The NYPL has some Sanborn maps from the early '00s. They typically denote building usage. The area around lower 6th Ave has been redeveloped since then and renumbered so my original searching on Google was way off. Nonetheless, on the early maps looking for 238-244 Sixth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets back then) didn't indicate anything about the Tipaldi Bros. operations on the map. Looking at that location on Google now shows some big apartment blocks. All traces apparently gone.

The 76 West 35th Street site that Lorraine referenced is a bit more intriguing. The 1897 map shows the property at the corner of 35th and Sixth Avenue as a tiny corner plot. Looking at the Google map version of the same corner, it appears that the building may still stand--or at least a replacement building on the same lot size--while the more recent buildings have clearly agglomerated smaller lots. My hunch is that it is the original building but I have no way of being sure.

I don't know my way around NYC very well so this is slow going. I'll keep hunting and see if anything else turns up.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

I will be in the city tomorrow, but I don't know how much time I will have to explore. If I remember I will take a camera (my cell phone doesn't take good pics)

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

Domenico Tipaldi was born in the Naples area of Italy in 1855. His parents were Carmino Tipaldi and Amalia Coppaola Tipaldi. He married Adelaide Madeline Mazzolla (later went by Ida), who was born in Italy 1870 to parents Gaetano and Josephina Giambrocono Mazzolla. I met her several times growing up and have a wonderful photo of her holding me as a baby. She was known as Little Grandma. Her brother Louis Mazzolla had a catering business in NY and was also a painter and cabman. He painted many murals (loved cherubs) in NY hotels and we have 2 paintings by him.

The images I have are my Great Grandfather Domenico Tipaldi (one of the brothers) with his beautiful mandolin, a poster/flyer/ad with a group shot of his Mandolin Orchestra (he's standing at left with his hand on his brother's shoulder, who is seated). In the ad, the first song listed is Attilio Valse = Attilio's Waltz. That was for his first son (born 1890 in NYC, died 1940), my Grandfather, who later went by Arthur, played banjo, had his own bands and was President of The Musicians' Guild in Montreal probably in the 30s. I have a studio portrait of him with one of his banjos, many different images of him with his bands and a group image of him with the Phil Romano Band and one with The Paul Whiteman Orchestra. He married Carmelina Bernice Martino (or DiMartino) who went by Emily and was born in Campania Italy, 1891. Their only child was my Dad Arthur, born in Albany 1924. I have an older brother and younger sister and that is where this particular line of the Tipaldi name ends. There are 3 Granddaughters and 1 Grandson, 2 Great Grandsons and 1 Great Granddaughter of my father's, but no other males with the Tipaldi name beyond my brother. Dad played drums and we all took basic guitar lessons in the 60s, but sadly none have musical careers.

I have always had a strong passion, appreciation and respect for music and musicians and for many years was a Freelance Photographer. Most of my images are of musicians from local areas all the way up to International status, mostly Jazz and Blues. I believe that is one of the gifts I received from the Tipaldi line.

Domenico had a second son, Amadeo, who later went by Andy. He also played banjo and had his own band, The Melody Kings. I have images of him with the band, articles and a recording of theirs. He was President of The Musicians' Guild in Montreal after his brother died. He had no children.

Okay, I'll try again to get these images on here...
~Lorraine

[brunello97]

While I was looking around my files, I found another image of the same mandolyre that Jim posted which had a different label inside than the previous one I posted. I'll include it here for posterity.

Mick

One last thing: doing a "Tipaldi" search here turned up a few cryptic conversations, the examples Jim and I posted and references to a few Vinaccia mandolins that the Tipaldi Bros. apparently imported and added their own label to. "Schlegel" (who still frequents the MC I think) bought one of the Vinaccia / Tipaldi mandolins at a yard sale (!) it seems.

The search also turned up a link to Neil Gladd's site where he posted the cover of a collection of arrangements by Domenico Tipaldi.

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

Domenico Tipaldi came to the US in 1874 and was naturalized 1905. The 1900 census shows his family living on West 17th Street and has him listed as a Music Professor. Can't make out what address number, maybe 244. The 1920 census has them on West 67th Street, maybe 289 or 389, hard to tell. Listed as Musician, so are his 2 sons.

Emigration records show my Dad and his parents moved to Montreal 1928.

Not having any luck with these uploads. Is there a trick or incantation I'm missing? I went to 'Go Advanced' and uploaded about 6 images, but I'm not seeing them...

~Lorraine

[Lorraine Tipaldi]

You guys rock!
~L