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Thread: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

  1. #26

    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    I'm reminded of an old story I've told here before. I was at an outdoor flea market and a somewhat annoying lady was picking up costume jewelry and asking the vendor, "is this pewter?" After saying no to her about 10 times, he replied, "do you want it to be pewter?"

    It sounds like the OP wants it to be pre-WWII for some reason....

    Keep in mind, we are evaluating this instrument based only on the photos shown. I think most of us who have handled a lot of vintage instruments on a daily basis could date the instrument with good accuracy if we were able to hold the instrument in our hands, FWIW.

  2. #27
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    He also wants it to be a Cousenon, not a Couesnon.
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  3. #28
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    From the Couesnon histoire that Jim posted:

    "This company still existed in 1956 in Mirecourt, but soon closed its violin-making workshops, to limit itself to its first activity as a wind instrument maker, in Chateau Thierry."

    Don't know what "soon" means in French years, but hints that pre-1960 might be a safe bet for these.

    Mick
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  4. #29

    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    When I bought my nylon strung acoustic a few years back, I did as much research as I could and found nothing definitive about the firm other than it appeared to have ended production some time in the early 1960s. Of course, it may be that stringed instrument production ended earlier than this but nothing definitive has surfaced although there must be someone that knows the facts.

  5. #30

    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    It's not a matter of my wanting it to be pre ww2 (its not even my instrument), I'm just going by the info I have. While the tuners place it anywhere between 1930 and 1960. The patination suggests it's on the earlier end; with the condition of the finish I would have expected cleaner brass. I handle a lot of 1960s/1970s instruments and this feels very different in terms of build quality and materials although I was puzzled by the excellent condition of the finish as opposed to the apparent age of the label and tuners. What jim garber posted above is very consistent stylistically with this cousenon which suggests a very similar age (although the cousenon seems to contain better timbers), and the auctioneers put it in the 1930s. The cousenon company history i've found suggests its either from 1930-1940 or 1945-1960. I assume there would have been a five year break in the middle as everyone was a bit busy being invaded blown up and shot to be worrying about making mandolins. Anything after 1960 seems unlikely as the company was winding up. All of which I may well be completely wrong about but in terms of pure probability it still looks like pre ww2. unfortunately the mirecourt museum is predictably unresponsive.

  6. #31
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    It is still spelled Couesnon.

    Seriously, I certainly understand trying to ascertain age and other identifying features on these vintage instruments. And it is good to look carefully and not accept every opinion. I think you have some reasonable assessments for sure and many of us here have only the photos to go by.
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  7. #32
    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    Here's another member of the family we're talking about, a Couesnon for sale here in my town. No financial interest, of course:

    https://www.usedvictoria.com/strings-guitar/39607328

    I spent a nice half-hour with it and its owner last week. Well made and a strong sound, closer to a good bowlback than I would have expected. (But the tuners need a little work and the neck is too narrow for me.)

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  9. #33
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    At least they spelled it correctly.
    Jim

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  10. #34
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    A little bit of interesting history of rive Couesnon and it's connection (potentially so) to Mont St. Michel.

    Price looks right on the mandolin, Bruce.

    If I had it in my hand for a half hour I likely would have bought it, myself.

    Mick
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  11. #35
    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    Yeah, Mick, it would have been easy to buy, but not to play (neck width).

    I was hoping to put some of the ad photos into the thread here for documentation purposes, but couldn't lift them.

  12. #36
    Registered User bwnunnally's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Clausen View Post
    Yeah, Mick, it would have been easy to buy, but not to play (neck width).

    I was hoping to put some of the ad photos into the thread here for documentation purposes, but couldn't lift them.
    Hopefully this does it:

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  14. #37
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    Default Re: Mandolin by Cousenon a mirecourt

    I owned a similar Couesnon mandolin. They were built by their own workshop in Mirecourt and were sold by catalog. This is the typical post WWII French mass produced student mandolin. From sound and quality point of view, not as good as a Patenotte, di Mauro or Gerome.

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