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Thread: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

  1. #1
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    As many of you folks know, I am very fond of oddball instruments. My friend and excellent luthier, Joel Eckhaus (Earnest Instruments) has a geographical connection to the maker who worked in the early part of the last century. Joel bought and restored one of these oddball mandolins made by John Henry Parker. Joel wrote an article in Fretboard Journal a few years ago.

    A mandolin by this maker just showed up on eBay and I scored it yesterday. I am currently waiting for the seller to ship it to Joel who very graciously agreed to restore it.

    It looks it is missing one fretboard inlay and has some loose binding in multiple places. I am hoping that structurally it is OK. This one doesn't have a label inside or a Bandola plate on the headstock.

    I think Joel's mandolin was originally discussed on this thread in 2007.

    And an octave mandolin version is discussed in this thread from 2008.

    The patent from 1894 is below.
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    Jim

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    That is very cool. I believe some early Orville Gibson guitars also played around with having the sound box extend further up the neck. Something in the air?

  4. #3
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    The Bandola mandolin did not travel too far from its birthplace so Joel was able to pick it up from the seller. Here is mine and his. Mine is mahogany body, his is rosewood. His has "The Bandola" badge on the headstock and a label from the maker. Mine has neither and two less fretboard inlays.

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    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
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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

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  6. #4
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    As many of you folks know, I am very fond of oddball instruments. My friend and excellent luthier, Joel Eckhaus (Earnest Instruments) has a geographical connection to the maker who worked in the early part of the last century. Joel bought and restored one of these oddball mandolins made by John Henry Parker. Joel wrote an article in Fretboard Journal a few years ago.
    Jim, Thanks for posting the link to that article. I enjoyed reading about the history of your "garlic bulb" mandolin, all of which took place pretty close to my neck of the woods.

    Sue

  7. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    Yes, garlic bulb mandolin. I haven't met it yet (and it may be a while) but when I do I would think a spicy Italian mazurka would be an appropriate tune to play on it.
    Jim

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    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

  8. #6
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    Default Re: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    Ah, the other bidder! Congrats, sorry if I drove the price up! Looks very cool: please let us know how it sounds. Glad it's gone to a good home....

  9. #7
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bandola / Calvert-Parker

    No worries, mjbee. It didn’t need too much luthier TLC. And DePaule Supply had a pre-cut pearl inlay in stock that was very close to what was there originally at the fifth fret. That is on its way to Joel now.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
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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

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