First, as someone who is new to vintage mandolins, I want to thank the contributors to this forum for posting so much interesting and useful information over the years. I've spent hours searching through the forum's threads and have learned a lot!
I recently bought a 1918 Gibson A-2 mandolin (FON 11149). When I received the instrument, I was surprised to find a sticker inside, just above the Gibson label. It reads “J.J. Levert, Importer, Dealer and Teacher, Montreal.” I’m an archivist and historian by profession, and this label led me straight down a research rabbit-hole. I’m posting this here because it appears that Mandolin Archive is no longer adding new entries, and if anyone would care about this kind of thing it would be someone on this forum, right?
John Jules Levert was a music teacher and instrument dealer in Montreal. He was likely one of the many teacher-dealers in Gibson’s network at the time. Levert was born in Quebec, Canada on August 1, 1869. He emigrated to the United States at age 16 and found work as a musician in New York. By 1896, he had become a U.S. citizen and was teaching mandolin, banjo, piano, guitar and violin from a studio at 517 3rd Avenue.
Around 1898, he moved back to Canada and opened a new studio at 2232 St. Catherine Street in Montreal. He taught mandolin, guitar and banjo in his studio, and in the homes of his students. He advertised special rates for women and children. He also began a series of annual concerts in Montreal. His 13th annual concert in 1911 featured a program of marches, waltzes and solo performances on mandolin, piano, banjo, guitar and vocal. Valentine Abt played solo mandolin versions of works by Mendelssohn and Wagner. The “Orpheum Banjo-Mandolin Orchestra” played a “ragtime march.” The concert ended with a rendition of “God Save the King” on piano. Later that year, Levert agreed to lead the McGill Banjo and Mandolin Club. The Club referred to him as “Montreal’s well-known Banjo and Mandolin Club leader.”
By 1917, Levert had moved to 446 St. Catherine with his wife Lillian? and son Jules Francis. The street numbers in Montreal have since changed. At the time, that address was between Mansfield and Metcalfe streets. Levert was still in business as a music teacher and instrument dealer in 1921, and was doing well enough to afford a live-in maid.
I suspect he ordered this A-2 from Gibson in 1918, placed his label inside the sound hole, and sold it to one of his students or to a member of the community. I believe this instrument spent most of its life in Canada before I received it. It's well worn, but a great player with a punchy, wonderful tone. It's exactly what I was looking for.
Sources:
Spann, Joe; Guide to Gibson, 1902-1941
NY Naturalization record, October 27, 1894
1921 Canadian Census
New York Journal, October 1, 1896
La Minerve, December 24, 1898
Crescendo, March 12, 1911
McGill Daily, December 13, 1911
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