Ward's Model 1642 Model Carved Top Mandolin, made by Gibson (1936), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 652B-13 (FON), sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
This is an interesting and fairly unusual mandolin from one of Gibson's numerous 1930's Jobber Brand lines. Unlike nearly all of the "off-brand" instruments built in Kalamazoo during the 1930's, the Ward's Model 1642 actually has a carved spruce top like a period Gibson. That feature gives it more the character (and sound!) of a Gibson A-40 or A-50 than the Kalamazoo-brand instruments it otherwise resembles. The top and back are single bound as is the celluloid pickguard, and the entire instrument has a lovely amber-brown sunburst finish. Unlike much of the Ward's instruments, this Mandolin has no brand name, just a gold "WARD'S" sticker under the bass side F-hole. According To Paul Fox's excellent book THE OTHER BRANDS OF GIBSON (which every prewar Gibson fan should own!) The Ward's Model 1642 was only built from 1936-7 making it quite a rare instrument. We had the opportunity to show this very one to Paul himself recently and pronounced it one of the nicest he had ever seen!
Overall length is 25 11/16 in. (65.2 cm.), 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm.) width, and 2 5/16 in. (5.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). For a 1930's instrument this mandolin is extremely well preserved and all original. For an instrument of this period he lacquer finish is unusually clean with the original shine, showing just some very light wear-primarily pick scratches to the top. This is an excellent player, and the best sounding "off-brand" Gibson mandolin we have had. Includes the original heavy chipboard case. Excellent Condition.
