Unarchived Loar at skinner auction?

[Vernon Hughes]

I don't see this number listed in the archives..Is it not a known Loar?https://secure.skinnerinc.com/asp/fu...refno=++961589

[Scott Tichenor]

The label sure looks funky. Hmmmm.

[danb]

Signature label is unusual.. cross-checking a bunch of photos I have

[danb]

Well it was that little "th" after 13 that caught my eye. This is the only one that has that in the entire archive! There is always something new to see.

There are a number of little details I look for on the label itself too.. they all look just right, and so does the whole instrument! It looks like a very nice example condition-wise, with a super-clean neck too.

[John Kinn]

Isn't that estimation on the low side?

[sgarrity]

It'll be interesting to see what this one goes for. The wood is pretty plain and no pickguard? But man, it appears to be in excellent condition. Lots of newly discovered F5s showing up in the last few months! It's a great time to buy if you've got the scratch.

[Vernon Hughes]

I think it's a great price but it IS an auction..only takes 2 to run it up..I suspect if it's real it will surpass the estimate though the economy is still in the toilet,at least as far as we here in the contracting business are concerned...I asked the wife again if we could trade the house for a mando and just camp for a couple years..same response as the last loar that appeared a little while back..(rolling eyes)

[Mike Black]

I had to check but the 13th of June 1923 was a Wednesday.

[Mike Black]

It'll be interesting to see what this one goes for. The wood is pretty plain and no pickguard? But man, it appears to be in excellent condition. Lots of newly discovered F5s showing up in the last few months! It's a great time to buy if you've got the scratch.

It does have the hole in the side where the pickgaurd used to be.

[danb]

Isn't that estimation on the low side?

Yes.. depends on who is bidding, but I'd expect it to beat that by a fair bit easily

[Glassweb]

Yes.. depends on who is bidding, but I'd expect it to beat that by a fair bit easily

yes, it will surely beat the estimate, but these instruments have never done particularly well at auction compared to other current sales. recent Loar F5 sale prices have been climbing steadily, but i think someone will be able to "steal" it at this auction.

[houseworker]

Well it was that little "th" after 13 that caught my eye. This is the only one that has that in the entire archive!

Not the only very unusual feature. All the top bound pre-war F-5s I've checked in the archive have the purfling laid in using the traditional violin technique, where the join in the scroll allows one strip of purfling to run to the edge of the binding. This instrument is bound in the post-war style with a symmetrical joint.

The front scroll:


The back scroll:

[JFDilmando]

Interesting label, with the "th" and the slanting of his "L's" which I know I have only seen maybe once before... I would love for the folks that know his signature to comment on this peculiarity.... Seems like his "L's" alwaus have that lift from high rather than approaching from low.... just another oddity....
Looks like a beautiful mandolin

[danb]

All the top bound pre-war F-5s I've checked in the archive have the purfling laid in using the traditional violin technique, where the join in the scroll allows one strip of purfling to run to the edge of the binding.

Hmm, I think I understand what you are saying.. these are all Loars below, not sure if this joint you're describing is a pre-war style

[mandophil(e)]

Calling Mr. Wolfe........

[Rroyd]

Those little details that have been pointed out that are out of the norm makes one wonder whether this mandolin needs a closer examination to determine whether it really is the real deal or not. Whether any of the other June 13 signed mandolins in the archives have that mitered joint in the scroll binding might shed some light on that aspect, and the "th" never appearing anywhere else is curious indeed. Does someone break a habit like that one time?

[danb]

Rroyd- I think the join is not unusual at all, but I might have mis-understood the previous posting. I found a bunch of them one way (one line of binding goes to the end, another butts it), a bunch the other (like I posted.. both are cut in a "V" shape and meet at the middle of the L-shape).

It's safe to say that there was more than one Luthier making what would eventually become a Loar-signed F5.. there a lots of little variations in build and finish.

[JeffD]

I would think that if the label was a forgery, the "th", or its absence, is something the forger would have gotten correct. Its too obvious a thing.

[hedgehog]

One thing about those close up scroll pictures, even with a $100,000 instrument it sure is ugly in there. Makes me feel MUCH better about the scroll on the LM-600 I had.

[Jim Garber]

Isn't that estimation on the low side?

My observation on auction houses is that they tend to estimate low and when it goes for considerably more, it becomes news that they can use for publicity, thereby attracting any one else who has a similar item they might want to consign. You know, like: "This instrument went for more than double the estimate."

[danb]

73673 on the top
73682 on the bottom

Unusual signature, but it matches this one and another signed very close in date

[HoGo]

To me the mandolin looks perfectly authentic. The scroll caught my eyes bu tnot because of miter but relatively poor execution. All four mandolins Dan posted above have scrolls much nicer - smooth bends and nicer circle. Could be one of the first attempts of a new employee. Everything fits in the early '23, binding with more prominent white-black line, bookmatched maple, spruce with visible off-quarter grain, correct shape of smaller scroll on headstock and also the larger scroll is typical for this period (few months later the shape changed slightly), even the headstock positioning pin is where it's supposed to be. The signature label appears to be cleaned with something too damp - perhaps piece of cloth on a wire that caused bleeding of the ink. Otherwise the label appears correct, notice the larger space between two e's in word "engine er", also the correct shape of f-b extension for this period. And I could go on... There's no Loar copy I've seen that had just few of these details correct.
Looks like it possibly got thoroughly cleaned and (french-)polished and maybe some color touch-up on neck? Just guessing from the pics...

[Mandolin Mick]

That's one fine looking mandolin! And, that price ... still out of rich ... but within my dreams ...

[Andrew B. Carlson]

This is one of those threads that I really get excited about. I'm constantly checking back to see the experts opinions on it. If only I had the funds to make the ultimate investigation.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Oh boy ! - I wouldn't mind driving that one for a while.It's a beauty,
Ivan