Post a picture of your lyon&healy mando

[keef]

Nate, you may just have a transitional model or a custom order. I have never seen an asymmetrical one with the long scale but I am sure that it is possible.

As usual I would side with Jim here. The serial number of the asymmetrical one is puzzling, since the earliest asymmetrical Style A I have listed is somewhere near the 1,000 serial number range. Is the 1912 indication written on the label, or just an estimate from the dealer of the instrument's year of manufacture?

The clue here is the 'SPCL' indication on the label - it must have been a custom order. I have seen the 'Special' indication only once before I think on a L&H flatback mandolin label, and that very likely seemed to be a one-off as well, as it was not a catalog model.

Your #49 was likely made in 1917, when Style A was introduced. The tailpiece with the 1919 indication can't be original to that mandolin, but put on later as a replacement of the original (certainly not the first time this happened to these instruments).

If you want to go the period correct route (for both instruments), just swap out both tailpieces and voila!

By the way - I think I've explained to Jim that there were still a number of uncleared issues regarding the 100 or so Style A-C mandos that I have data on. Please don't consider the Washburn book as the final word on these fine instruments - maybe Jim can write that book!

[zookster]

I DO own an asymmetrical A model with the longer scale length. It's marked "professional" and is Serial #706. I'd like to know the approx. year, which I'm guessing is 1923. Any ideas?

Also.....does anybody know where I could get a replacement knee rest?

[mrmando]

I DO own an asymmetrical A model with the longer scale length. It's marked "professional" and is Serial #706. I'd like to know the approx. year, which I'm guessing is 1923. Any ideas?

I should think it would be earlier than '23. '21 seems the most likely year for a transitional model. I thought they were all short-scale by '23.

And, has it got a "Washburn" label or a "Lyon & Healy" label?

[keef]

I DO own an asymmetrical A model with the longer scale length. It's marked "professional" and is Serial #706. I'd like to know the approx. year, which I'm guessing is 1923. Any ideas?

Also.....does anybody know where I could get a replacement knee rest?

I checked my list - A Style A with number 75X is the earliest asymmetrical model that I have, and it has a short scale neck. #681 still has the symmetrical body. #707 hangs at the Washburn headquarters in Mundelein (where I inspected it, and one of the top braces came off....). That one has the 11.12.1918 patent stamp on the pickguard, but dumb enough I did not record if it's the symmetrical version or not. Anyway, your mandolin apparently is one of the first asymmetrical models.

As to the date...I have a February 2, 1921 ad with a picture of an asymmetrical Style A, and a 1921 L&H mando catalog showing the same version - these are the earliest pics I have of the new styles. Late 1920 or early 1921 would likely be the transition period.

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

Heres #70 style B. long scale- Pat applied for on pickguard

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

lets try for another #70

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

and

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

one more

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

a little different lighting

[mrmando]

Here is a nice Style B, #1475. Art Deco headstock, short scale, Washburn label. It's a '22 or '23.

This one came flying out of an estate in Los Angeles. It has a repaired side crack and the original case is long gone. Frets were toast, but I had it refretted and put Thomastiks on it, and now it sings like nobody's business. Its new owner is playing it in the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra and couldn't be happier. Says that every time she picks it up she has to play it for at least two hours.