Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: 1895 Vinaccia -

  1. #1

    Smile 1895 Vinaccia -

    Sometime around the turn of the (Twentieth) Century, my great-grandfather picked up a Mandolin from a pawn shop in Naples. It's been in my family for a few generations since, and I recently acquired it, since it was literally sitting on a shelf collecting dust at my Mom's house.

    It is in ok condition - shockingly so, given how long it's been neglected. The top has warped enough to separate a little from the body.

    But the rest of the instrument is in good shape. The bowl is fully intact, and it shined up beautifully with a little Dunlop 65. The tailpiece is not original, and I think the tuners were replaced at some point at least 50 years ago (and they are tarnished, but functional).

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-front.jpg 
Views:	87 
Size:	1.13 MB 
ID:	206022

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-label.jpg 
Views:	62 
Size:	687.6 KB 
ID:	206023

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-02.jpg 
Views:	73 
Size:	922.1 KB 
ID:	206024

    I'm taking it to a local luthier to see about fixing the top (I hope it's not extremely expensive). I plan to keep it in the family for as many generations as I can - but only on the condition that it gets PLAYED! I remember how this instrument sounded once upon a time. I would love to take my Guitar/Ukulele/Violin experience and put it to work on this thing.

    I want to give as big shout-out to Graham McDonald and everyone who contributed to this post for helping me learn a little of the history of the family that built this Mandolin 128 years ago.

    From what I can tell, this particular model is common enough that its subjective value as a family heirloom exceeds it's auction price by a few orders of magnitude. Would love to hear y'alls thoughts about it.

  2. The following members say thank you to jvandermeulen for this post:


  3. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Good luck. I don’t know where you live but it is usually not easy to find someone who is both capable and willing to fix a vintage bowlback like yours. BTW I believe that the bridge is not original either. Also, I can’t tell what, if anything, is going on with the frets or if that is only a reflection in the photo. It looks like some of the frets are different from others.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  4. #3

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    It looks like some of the frets are different from others.
    I think you might be right. At first I thought maybe it was just tarnished a little more, but on very close inspection, those three darker frets are every-so-slightly taller than the surrounding ones. Good eye!

  5. #4
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Ann Arbor/Austin
    Posts
    6,281

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    A wonderful discovery on your part! Thanks for sharing it with us.

    We'd love to see more photos if that is possible....

    It appears to have a maple bowl...which while not uncommon, wasn't the usual choice for Vinaccia.

    I would venture that it has had a fret replacement....at least for the "shiny" ones....probably stainless steel frets.

    I can't quite see the other ones #2-4. The original frets were likely brass and with a thinner profile.

    Somewhere along its life it had some work done...as you suggest, the tuners, bridge, tailpiece and a fretjob.

    And likely a new fretboard itself.

    Some new photos might help confirm some of those guesses.

    Vinaccia made delightful instruments at all levels of their work.

    It certainly is worth looking into a repair of the top.

    We look forward to hearing and seeing more!

    Mick
    Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
    ______________________

    '05 Cuisinart Toaster
    '93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
    '12 Stetson Open Road
    '06 Bialetti expresso maker
    '14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig

  6. #5

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    The tailpiece engraving is a style used by Oscar Schmidt- I have a Stella style mandolin made by that company and it has the same tailpiece cover. Here is on which is way more fancy than my Stella!

    https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...-flatback.html

  7. #6

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Quote Originally Posted by brunello97 View Post
    We'd love to see more photos if that is possible....
    Here is a closer look at the bowl and the warping of the top:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-bowl-and-warping.jpg 
Views:	55 
Size:	1.97 MB 
ID:	206041

    Fretboard and neck:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-neck-detail.jpg 
Views:	49 
Size:	638.2 KB 
ID:	206042

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-neck-detail-02.jpg 
Views:	47 
Size:	712.5 KB 
ID:	206043

    Headstock. You can see where the old holes were for the tuner hardware.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-headstock-front.jpg 
Views:	45 
Size:	616.4 KB 
ID:	206044

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia-headstock-rear.jpg 
Views:	51 
Size:	556.3 KB 
ID:	206045

  8. #7
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Please show us a full-on back view. Also one of the bowl from the bottom.

    I have only one remaining Vinaccia mandolin but had owned a few others over the years. I had one from the 1890s that was sort of in the same realm as yours. This one actually has the same engraved cloud-shaped cover but, once again, I am not sure if that was original, though I will check through my jpegs to see if there is something that looks more original. I think they probably had 4 post simple tailpieces and perhaps just added a sleeve guard with no built-in cover.

    Here is the bowl from my former 1890s one:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	vinaccia_bowl.jpg 
Views:	41 
Size:	106.5 KB 
ID:	206046

    The one I still have which has an ugly warp/crack on the top is from 1902. I had it repaired years ago but that crack opened up again. This one you might use for what the original bridge might look like. Here are a few pics that might be useful.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0038.JPG 
Views:	81 
Size:	748.1 KB 
ID:	206047   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0039.JPG 
Views:	86 
Size:	688.8 KB 
ID:	206048   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Vinaccia1902FTBK.jpg 
Views:	86 
Size:	1.26 MB 
ID:	206049  

    Last edited by Jim Garber; Feb-11-2023 at 3:07pm.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  9. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Here are a few c. 1895 Vinaccia tailpiece arrangements some from pretty upper end fancy ones. All seem to be the 4-post configuration though I imagine that previous owner may have gotten sick of that and went with a more modern one made in the USA. Fancy sleeve guard is also pictured below.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN0167..jpg 
Views:	78 
Size:	55.5 KB 
ID:	206050   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	04.jpg 
Views:	80 
Size:	12.4 KB 
ID:	206051   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	$_57-2.JPG 
Views:	83 
Size:	183.4 KB 
ID:	206052  

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	76751746_o.jpg 
Views:	79 
Size:	92.2 KB 
ID:	206053   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0006.JPG 
Views:	81 
Size:	32.9 KB 
ID:	206054  
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  10. #9
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    BTW if you want a better and more authentic repro bridge Dave Hynds in France can guide you or even make one for you. I could even take better pics of mine to send to him. He has a page linked on this page on how to make it yourself or show to your luthier: http://www.mandolinluthier.com/mandolin-bridges.htm
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  11. #10

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Please show us a full-on back view. Also one of the bowl from the bottom.
    It’s with the luthier now, but here are some pics I took when I first got it.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	4D0CB463-925E-4912-AC54-4F96DD7DCCEC.jpg 
Views:	47 
Size:	536.2 KB 
ID:	206055

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	19FFC51A-A6D4-4842-A88A-342FA6AD4643.jpg 
Views:	50 
Size:	583.8 KB 
ID:	206057

    I counted 25 slats(?) on the back.

    Removing the tailpiece cover, you can see (in the shadow) where the original end-pin holes were, so it’s definitely not original.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	4C474C36-6904-43EB-9448-7E8CA2BDFD66.jpg 
Views:	54 
Size:	305.6 KB 
ID:	206056

  12. The following members say thank you to jvandermeulen for this post:


  13. #11
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Great that you have a competent luthier who can restore this mandolin.Keep us posted.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  14. #12

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    I can understand why the tailpiece replaced those four pegs. My 1893 Vinaccia has them and the loops on the strings are not big enough to go over them. You have to unwind the loop a bit which is a pain.

  15. #13

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Quote Originally Posted by NickR View Post
    I can understand why the tailpiece replaced those four pegs. My 1893 Vinaccia has them and the loops on the strings are not big enough to go over them. You have to unwind the loop a bit which is a pain.
    Or maybe, as on some guitars, you pull the pegs out.

  16. #14
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard500 View Post
    Or maybe, as on some guitars, you pull the pegs out.
    That’s what I thought but I never had one that had those pegs just the four-post tailpiece.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    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

  17. #15

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    I pulled the pegs out and to be honest as it was a hassle, I passed the buck as it needed some luthier work I let him wrestle with the issue. I reckon that the strings were the same ones my great grandfather had used in the early 1900s.

  18. #16

    Default Re: 1895 Vinaccia -

    I had a couple of Vinaccias with the pegs, you sure need to pull them out, like with the guitar bridges, to do a restring. The pegs are thinner at the ends and the string loops go over just fine.

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •