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Thread: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

  1. #1
    Registered User Vernon Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Just picked this up off feebay,got it today..It really is a nice piece of work. Well used. I was more interested in seeing if it mated up to the old gibson A's..It's really close,has some space at the shoulders but otherwise it's a pretty good fit. Any ideas where this might have originated? I guess I have TAS as well as MAS!
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    Hughes F-5 #1
    Hughes A model #1
    1922 Gibson A-2
    1958 Gibson A-5

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  3. #2
    Adrian Minarovic
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    The patina looks VERY similar to original Loar era F style mould... Could be an old A style mould from Gibson... They must have had many of them back during 20's and this may be the first one to surface. The fit against one Gibson A doesn't have to be perfect as the moulds at gibson were likely all slightly different (there were some differences in F style shapes as well).
    Adrian

  4. #3

    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Wow, if that's true, then that is a very cool find, indeed!

    With my luck, I'd have found one from the Saga factory....

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  6. #4
    Registered User Vernon Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    I was hoping the blind pig found an acorn..Kinda exciting.I'll have to see if it mates up better to an unmolested A-mine came to me in pieces and I put it back together..It involved a torture device of my own making to squash it back into shape.
    Hughes F-5 #1
    Hughes A model #1
    1922 Gibson A-2
    1958 Gibson A-5

  7. #5
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Bill Hallsey would know if that is an original Gibson mould or not.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  8. #6
    Registered User Vernon Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    I see he's a member,maybe he should see this thread.
    Hughes F-5 #1
    Hughes A model #1
    1922 Gibson A-2
    1958 Gibson A-5

  9. #7
    Registered User Bill Halsey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    I'm on it... back in a few.
    ~Bill~
    "Often wrong, but never in doubt."
    --Ivy Baker Priest

  10. #8
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Okay, guys,
    I'll show my ignorance. What exactly is this used for?
    Thanks,
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  11. #9
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Bill, it looks like an outside mould for the rib structure of an A-style mandolin. You would bend the ribs to fit the mould and clamp them inside. You can then fit the neck and tail blocks and glue them in as well as the kerfing.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  12. #10
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Thanks, Charles,
    Seems an awkward way to do it, but who can quibble with success.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  13. #11
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Bill, do you use an inside mould?
    Bill Snyder

  14. #12
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    By chance does it look like someone used a C clamp on each end to glue in the head and tail block?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  15. #13
    Registered User Vernon Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Sure does..typical c clamp swirl marks top and bottom..Also has a deep scribed centerline at the tailblock end and 2 deep outer scribe / locator marks for the outside edges of the tailblock itself ..all the marks are on the top edge.
    Hughes F-5 #1
    Hughes A model #1
    1922 Gibson A-2
    1958 Gibson A-5

  16. #14
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    I suppose all the companies building probably used similar methods of clamping.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  17. #15
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Anybody seen a mandolin rib clamp like this?

    Well, I guess this was a pretty standard production clamp. I just couldn't visualize it without some sort of spreader present, and the term "clamp" threw me off. I would have called it a mold.
    I use both inside and outside molds depending on whim.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

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