American Conservatory Bell # 5095 Model Tiple, made by Lyon & Healy, c. 1926, made in Chicago, serial # 880, natural finish, pearwood body, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebonized fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
The mid-1920's "Bell" design is one of the oddest and most distinctive ideas to come out of Chicago's Lyon & Healy factory. The unique sweeping body shape was applied to a number of different instruments sold under the Washburn brand, including Guitars, Hawaiian guitars, ukuleles and this Tiple. This particular instrument carries the second-line "American Conservatory" label but appears basically identical to the Washburn version. Features include beautifully grained pearwood on the back, black celluloid binding and the amazing up-and-down array of tuner buttons, which is supposed to make tuning easier! A fantastically rare instrument that also is a very fine playing and sounding instrument.
Overall length is 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm.), 11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm.) across at the widest point, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 15 5/8 in. (397 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.). All original with some play wear, mostly to the area of the top near the fingerboard. Some of the veneer on the headstock face has been replaced cleanly. The neck was just reset; this excellent player and a fine example of one of the rarest Lyon & Healy creations, complete with the original case. Excellent + Condition.
