Larson Brothers Stahl Style 6 Bowl Back Mandolin (1910)
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Item #13550
Stahl Style 6 Model Bowl Back Mandolin, made by Larson Brothers, c. 1910, made in Boston, Mass., natural varnish finish, rosewood bowl, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original brown leather covered hard shell case.
In the early 1900s the Larson Brothers of Chicago were contracted by different teacher/publisher/dealers to supply high grade steel-string instruments to be sold under different brands. 1910's Fretted publications sometimes carried side-by-side ads featuring Larson-made instruments sold from different cities under unrelated names!
One was William C. Stahl of Milwaukee, a virtuoso mandolin player turned teacher and music publisher. Around 1906 the Larsons began supplying instruments to Stahl, who claimed to be the maker. He was one of the brother's biggest accounts; their wares made up the bulk of his line as advertised starting around 1907. Stahl scoffed at "machine made" instruments, insisting his are "hand made...reasonable in price and perfect as human hands can make them". He claims they were built under his "personal supervision", quite a trick as the Larsons were building them in Chicago while Stahl's offices were in Milwaukee!
Stahl was firmly of the bowl-back era and harbored particular disdain for Gibson, filling ads with not so subtle digs at them. In 1907 he wrote: "The Stahl mandolin is the regulation shaped instrument and not a freak or musical novelty as advertised by some makers". Larson-made Stahls were genuinely among the best non-Gibson mandolin family instruments available; He claimed they were the "Loudest and sweetest toned musical instruments in the world".
By late 1912 Stahl's ads also picture flat-back mandolins, but he always preferred the traditional bowlback. "We have flat back models...for those who want them" he practically sighs. Today William Stahl is primarily remembered for instruments the Larsons supplied him with. This bowlback mandolin is almost certainly a product of their two-man shop, the design is conventional the Larson's construction expertise shines. The great bulk of century+ old bowlback mandolins have collapsed unto decorator status, but this one is completely solid and still playable. A large label inside back states "Wm. C. Stahl, Manufacturer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin". There is no visible serial number but the instrument likely dates to the early 'teens at the latest.
This Stahl Style 6 is a fairly fancy instrument if not overly so for a bowlback; they sometimes lean to baroque level opulent! The list price in the 1910s was $31.00, MUCH cheaper than most Gibsons. The natural-finished spruce top has an inlaid tortoise pickguard with inset pearl decoration, the rim has multiple levels of colored wood trim and a side-bound ivoroid outer layer. The soundhole is bound and trimmed in pearl and wood marquetry. The body is made up of 41 rosewood ribs with maple insets between each one. The neck is mahogany topped with a thick bound ebony fingerboard; this and the rosewood-faced headstock are inlaid with pearl clover and diamond shapes and dots. The inset tuners, clamshell tailpiece and ebony bridge are conventional period mandolin fittings. There is an odd heart-shaped metal plate affixed to the headstock with a patent applied for marking; we believe this to have been intended as a pick holder but if so the location is quixotic!
Stahl mandolins are far better quality instruments than most period factory made bowlbacks, and fairly rare. Only the rather limited interest today in this style of mandolin prevents them being better appreciated 100+ years on. Stahl advertised that his wares were the best that could be had, claiming "no instruments can be made any better". In engaging the Larsons to build them he made that promise more than an idle boast.
Overall length is 24 1/2 in. (62.2 cm.), 8 in. (20.3 cm.) wide, and 6 in. (15.2 cm.) deep. Scale length is 12 3/4 in. (324 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This is a very clean instrument for being well over a century old, showing only some very light wear with scuffs, dings and a few light pick scratches. There is a feelable ding to the back of the neck at the first position. The bridge was misplaced too far forward for decades and there is a typical marked area on the top from this. There are no visible structural repairs and the mandolin is solid, unlike the majority of period bowlbacks the neck/body area and the top show no collapse. The action is currently set at 3/16" bass and treble, and could be slightly lowered by reworking the bridge if desired. The instrument plays well as these go, with a more robust tone than many more delicate bowlbacks. It is housed in a fantastically well preserved original tooled leather case that is easily the best of these we have ever had. Overall Excellent - Condition.
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In the early 1900s the Larson Brothers of Chicago were contracted by different teacher/publisher/dealers to supply high grade steel-string instruments to be sold under different brands. 1910's Fretted publications sometimes carried side-by-side ads featuring Larson-made instruments sold from different cities under unrelated names!
One was William C. Stahl of Milwaukee, a virtuoso mandolin player turned teacher and music publisher. Around 1906 the Larsons began supplying instruments to Stahl, who claimed to be the maker. He was one of the brother's biggest accounts; their wares made up the bulk of his line as advertised starting around 1907. Stahl scoffed at "machine made" instruments, insisting his are "hand made...reasonable in price and perfect as human hands can make them". He claims they were built under his "personal supervision", quite a trick as the Larsons were building them in Chicago while Stahl's offices were in Milwaukee!
Stahl was firmly of the bowl-back era and harbored particular disdain for Gibson, filling ads with not so subtle digs at them. In 1907 he wrote: "The Stahl mandolin is the regulation shaped instrument and not a freak or musical novelty as advertised by some makers". Larson-made Stahls were genuinely among the best non-Gibson mandolin family instruments available; He claimed they were the "Loudest and sweetest toned musical instruments in the world".
By late 1912 Stahl's ads also picture flat-back mandolins, but he always preferred the traditional bowlback. "We have flat back models...for those who want them" he practically sighs. Today William Stahl is primarily remembered for instruments the Larsons supplied him with. This bowlback mandolin is almost certainly a product of their two-man shop, the design is conventional the Larson's construction expertise shines. The great bulk of century+ old bowlback mandolins have collapsed unto decorator status, but this one is completely solid and still playable. A large label inside back states "Wm. C. Stahl, Manufacturer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin". There is no visible serial number but the instrument likely dates to the early 'teens at the latest.
This Stahl Style 6 is a fairly fancy instrument if not overly so for a bowlback; they sometimes lean to baroque level opulent! The list price in the 1910s was $31.00, MUCH cheaper than most Gibsons. The natural-finished spruce top has an inlaid tortoise pickguard with inset pearl decoration, the rim has multiple levels of colored wood trim and a side-bound ivoroid outer layer. The soundhole is bound and trimmed in pearl and wood marquetry. The body is made up of 41 rosewood ribs with maple insets between each one. The neck is mahogany topped with a thick bound ebony fingerboard; this and the rosewood-faced headstock are inlaid with pearl clover and diamond shapes and dots. The inset tuners, clamshell tailpiece and ebony bridge are conventional period mandolin fittings. There is an odd heart-shaped metal plate affixed to the headstock with a patent applied for marking; we believe this to have been intended as a pick holder but if so the location is quixotic!
Stahl mandolins are far better quality instruments than most period factory made bowlbacks, and fairly rare. Only the rather limited interest today in this style of mandolin prevents them being better appreciated 100+ years on. Stahl advertised that his wares were the best that could be had, claiming "no instruments can be made any better". In engaging the Larsons to build them he made that promise more than an idle boast.
Overall length is 24 1/2 in. (62.2 cm.), 8 in. (20.3 cm.) wide, and 6 in. (15.2 cm.) deep. Scale length is 12 3/4 in. (324 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This is a very clean instrument for being well over a century old, showing only some very light wear with scuffs, dings and a few light pick scratches. There is a feelable ding to the back of the neck at the first position. The bridge was misplaced too far forward for decades and there is a typical marked area on the top from this. There are no visible structural repairs and the mandolin is solid, unlike the majority of period bowlbacks the neck/body area and the top show no collapse. The action is currently set at 3/16" bass and treble, and could be slightly lowered by reworking the bridge if desired. The instrument plays well as these go, with a more robust tone than many more delicate bowlbacks. It is housed in a fantastically well preserved original tooled leather case that is easily the best of these we have ever had. Overall Excellent - Condition.
