Wellington bowlback 8 string, all info appreciated

[Wellington]

I’m looking for any info on the 8 string Wellington bowlback. The label inside says made by H.A. French, Nashville Tennessee, Style A, No,1134. The tailpiece has Pat’d Oct 26-86 (1886).

[NickR]

There will be a chorus of members here asking you to post up some photos- ideally showing all aspects of the instrument.

[allenhopkins]

H A French ad on Facebook. Dated 1897, lists him as "manufacturer of Wellington mandolins, guitars and banjos." Neither French or the "Wellington" brand shows up in the Mugwumps index, which leads me to believe that Mr. French may not have been a "manufacturer," but a seller of instruments made by others.

In any case, pix would definitely help.

[Wellington]

Um, er, um, I would love to post my pictures of it. Um, uh, how do I do that?

[Charles E.]

Click on "go advanced" in the top bar you will see a paperclip icon. Click on that and you can download pics from your files on your computer.

[Wellington]

Here are some of the pics I have.

[NickR]

It looks a lot like a Washburn Style 80 introduced in 1889 and it may be a slightly different model sold by Lyon & Healy for sale by third parties.

[Jim Garber]

It looks a lot like a Washburn Style 80 introduced in 1889 and it may be a slightly different model sold by Lyon & Healy for sale by third parties.

Sorry, Nick, I don't see how it is even close to a style 80. That was just about the top of the line Washburn mandolin and this is far from that. It is much closer to some of the lower end L&H lines. This is a Lakeside 503 (pictured below) similar in style but not quite, with binding etc.—it was described as having 13 ribs of rosewood and maple. In my 1912 catalog, there are listed mandolins that sold for $3.25-4.63. These had 9 ribs of maple and walnut. Most likely this Wellington was made for HA French to their specs which looks like a very budget mandolin. BTW those tailpieces were very common among other makers. I have seen them on mandolins made by Luigi Ricca. They may have been patented in '89 but I doubt the mandolin is from that time.

[Wellington]

Here are some of the pics I have.

Here are a few more and an ad I found.

Do you have any idea what it's worth?
It's just hanging around here, and needs a good home.

[Wellington]

Ooops, I just saw this, yeah, that's the same ad I found. Thanks

[Jim Garber]

Not worth a whole lot. If in decent playing shape maybe $100, if you are lucky. Bowlbacks are never super desirable unless they are ornate works of art or a few very desirable makers. Looks like the pickguard was replaced by transparent plastic?

[NickR]

Jim, I cannot think how I wrote 80 as the mandolin I was looking at was the nine rib Style 71 Washburn- but on looking again, I can see I have copied the number of the Ritzy 80 above it! I am sure it is an L & H version of something very like the 71 which dates from 1892.

Jim, I see you posted up some photos of a Style 71, a long time ago in this thread below. The tailpiece is far superior but perhaps Wellington can see many similarities in the build.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...hburn-bowlback

[Wellington]

Not worth a whole lot. If in decent playing shape maybe $100, if you are lucky. Bowlbacks are never super desirable unless they are ornate works of art or a few very desirable makers. Looks like the pickguard was replaced by transparent plastic?

No plastic, just no pick guard. It is similar to the pics that are in the link Nick posted.
I toyed with the idea of tuning it like an ukulele, but I think I will instead look for a good home for it.

Thanks so much for your input.

- - - Updated - - -

Jim, I cannot think how I wrote 80 as the mandolin I was looking at was the nine rib Style 71 Washburn- but on looking again, I can see I have copied the number of the Ritzy 80 above it! I am sure it is an L & H version of something very like the 71 which dates from 1892.

Jim, I see you posted up some photos of a Style 71, a long time ago in this thread below. The tailpiece is far superior but perhaps Wellington can see many similarities in the build.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...hburn-bowlback

It does look similar. Thank you for your help