H.O. Brown!

[mrmando]

I don't know what the heck this is, but it's intriguing.

https://www.auctionzip.com/auction-l...ar_4EB4ACDB32/

[rcc56]

It's an example of what these days is often called a "folk art" instrument.
Looks to be loosely inspired by the 1910's - 1920's Gibson style O archtop.

[Mike Buesseler]

Or maybe heavily inspired by some pharmaceuticals.

[Dave Hanson]

Nice one Mike.

Dave H

[Jeff Mando]

Besides the unusual appearance, I noticed the dimensions are stated as 43.5 inches x 20 inches, approximately. That would make it a huge acoustic guitar, the body being a couple inches wider than a Gibson Super 400 -- which would be hard to believe, unless they are talking about the overall dimensions of the "case." Not sure. Or, possibly they are talking about the length of the body?

At any rate, a super interesting wall-hanger!

[Sue Rieter]

The "scroll" looks like a hair style, to me.

[Jim Garber]

Hard to tell on my phone but looks like it needs a serious amount of work to actually play assuming it it playable. Probably played up to pitch and imploded.

[jim simpson]

Hard to tell on my phone but looks like it needs a serious amount of work to actually play assuming it it playable. Probably played up to pitch and imploded.

That poor thing looks like it has already started to implode! I tried to save the image to post here but did not have any luck doing so.

[Richard500]

Posterity demands.
Love things like this, and the lost stories. Betcha there are clues here. HO Brown, 1936.

[MikeEdgerton]

One must always include the label if possible

No mention in Mugwumps.

[MikeEdgerton]

It also comes with the original case but unfortunately I don't think that the instrument is original. At some point it appears the fretboard was changed out. This could affect the value. By the way, if I found this at a garage or estate sale I would have bought it in a second.

[rickbella]

The "scroll" looks to me like a bad toupee!

[MikeEdgerton]

The "scroll" looks to me like a bad toupee!

I think my grandmother had a couch with that same carving on the arms but I do find it interesting.

[allenhopkins]

Hmmm...six-string guitar tailpiece with two strings in each position, former fingerboard and pickguard in the case, along with another part that I can't ID. Just eyeballing the strings, appears intended for guitar tuning. It'll need lotsa work if ever it is to be playable again, but still...

Do others think that the scroll was carved separately, then glued to the body? Seems like an "add-on" to me.

Tried Googling H O Brown without success. Speculating this may be his (or her) one creation. Quite a legacy, if so.

[mrmando]

Do others think that the scroll was carved separately, then glued to the body? Seems like an "add-on" to me.

The legendary Add-a-Scroll!

Tried Googling H O Brown without success. Speculating this may be his (or her) one creation. Quite a legacy, if so.

He went into business with his cousin, J.P. Shmergel. During development of their ultimate instrument model, J.P. got jealous and blackmailed H.O. into giving up his half of the company — and hence that instrument is known today as the Shmergel Devastator.

[jaycat]

. . . it's intriguing.

You mispelled "ugly."

[Jacob]

Bought a handmade wire strung folk harp online.
Next morning found emails for a payment method refund, and an apology from the seller.
When it was being prepared for shipping, it imploded.
Asked if any one was injured, and the answer was no.
On the bright side, the vendor said it would now certainly fit into a much smaller box.

[allenhopkins]

..He went into business with his cousin, J.P. Shmergel. During development of their ultimate instrument model, J.P. got jealous and blackmailed H.O. into giving up his half of the company — and hence that instrument is known today as the Shmergel Devastator.

Total misinformation here, "mrmando" (if that is indeed your name)!

There was no "J P Shmergel"; the name is an Anglicization of the original Paraguayan-indigenous family name of the company's founder. One is not allowed to speak or write the original name, on penalty of having all one's mandolin strings simultaneously break, and becoming unable to purchase replacements. Paraguayan native sorcery is apparently quite powerful.

The "Devastator" name was adopted after a side-by-side 1924 comparison of the Shmergel with Gibson's then-new F-5, from which it's alleged Mr. Loar fled in tears. Had it not been for the perfidious intriguing of the Gibson board of directors, aided by corrupt and venal Michigan politicians, we might now be holding up the Devastator as the iconic template of mandolin excellence -- instead of pining away our lives, hoping for a single viewing of the instrument.

Life takes ironic turns sometimes, don't it?

[MikeEdgerton]

...Life takes ironic turns sometimes, don't it?

I have it on good notice that there were two mandolins hanging in the window of that Florida barber shop and that Bill Monroe couldn't afford the other one.

[allenhopkins]

...there were two mandolins hanging in the window of that Florida barber shop and that Bill Monroe couldn't afford the other one.

Perhaps it was a Shmergel Devastator...we'll never know...

[Bob Clark]

Perhaps it was a Shmergel Devastator...we'll never know...

Then again, it could have been an H.O. Brown, perhaps even this very one.

[MikeEdgerton]

Not a chance, Bill would have snapped this one up even if he had to borrow Mafia money to do it. Maybe not.

[Jim Garber]

Sold: $190.00. Did any of you fine folks acquire this beauty? Here are a few choice photos for archival purposes. I believe this was intended to be a 12 string guitar. "Measuring Approximately 43.5“ X 20“."