Gibson Style H-1 Model Carved Top Mandola (1917), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 42xxx, natural varnish finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a good player's example of a mid-teens Gibson Style H-1 Mandola, showing some internal repair but still with a lot of life left in it. The H-1 was Gibson's "basic" mandola, the lower priced of three models of this middle-pitched instrument of the mandolin-mandola-mandocello trio. Compared to mandolins, mandolas from any era are fairly rare, although more were made in the 1910's than later periods this is still a fairly scarce item well over a century on. The H-1 lacks the decorative elements of the higher priced H-2 but is structurally the same. The headstock face has no ornament except the "The Gibson" inlaid in pearl, and the top has two half-herringbone soundhole rings.
This H-1 was made in 1917; the serial number is partly missing but the factory Order Number 11033 ink-stamped on the neck block confirms this date. By this point Gibson's carved-top mandolin family instruments were indisputably the most influential in the world, and every other maker was playing catch up. Typical period features include a natural "pumpkin top" varnish finish top over lightly cherry stained back and sides, a tailpiece with Gibson-engraved cover, elevated tortoise celluloid pickguard and the Handel-made strip tuners used on all Gibsons of the period. The top is carved from spruce, over birch back and sides. The neck is Honduras mahogany fitted with a heavy bound ebony fingerboard. Despite some wear and tear this is a lovely sounding and fine playing example ready for another century at least.
Overall length is 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm.), 11 1/16 in. (28.1 cm.) width, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 15 3/4 in. (400 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This Mandola is a very nice player, worn in but not excessively so even after almost 110 years on the planet with some mostly old-school repair work. The body finish shows some old re-working but not a heavy refinishing; it also has fine checking overall and shows typical wear with chips, dings and scrapes, with the back of the neck worn to the wood over some of its length. The top finish has a nice amber patina showing an ancient light overfinish with scuffing, dings and scrapes but less pick wear than many. The back and sides look to have also been oversprayed long ago; there is some noticeable finish damage to the rims in either side of the tailpiece that has been touched up but is still quite visible.
The back/side seams have been resealed all along the edges, neatly in some places with visible scars in other areas from the process. The back was off at some point as a long slim longitudinal brace was added to the top behind the bridge augmenting the single original cross brace to reinforce a sinking top. This appears to have been in place for a long time and the top is fully solid now, with a normal height bridge showing only a slight depression beneath it. The back center seam opened over much of its length has been resealed, again many decades ago; The work was not the neatest with small cleats and glue slopped about internally; the label was partly damaged by this process. A separate long crack on the back runs up from the tail, curving off the center seam; this is sealed as well but fully visible.
The hardware is original except for the bridge including the celluloid pickguard and clamp, tuners and tailpiece/cover. The adjustable ebony bridge is a replica of the 1920s Gibson style, not period correct but much more functional from a player's standpoint than the original solid ebony piece. The frets are original with some light wear as is the bone nut. The instrument is an excellent player and a fine sounding Mandola, mellower than some (possibly due to the slightly stiffened top) but with a sweet and well-rounded tone. It lives in the original hard case, a bit worn but still fully functional. Overall Very Good Condition.
