Lyon & Healy Standard size Parlor Guitar (1905)
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Item #5248
Standard size Model Parlor Guitar, most likely made by Lyon & Healy, c. 1905, probably Chicago, natural varnish finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original brown leather covered soft shell case.
This beautiful and fairly fancy parlor guitar is a bit of a mystery girl; there are no label, brand or serial number markings visible. The overall construction and many detail features are extremely close to certain models in Lyon & Healey's Washburn line around 1900-1910; we are quite certain this is a Chicago-made instrument. The only marking is a stamp "Stand." on the heelblock, and the guitar does conform to the early 20th Century "Standard' size as cataloged by L & H.
The guitar's body has many lovely features including a Brazilian rosewood back and sides, elaborate pearl bordering on the top and soundhole, multiple top and side wood purfling layers and an ebony bridge with floral pearl insets on the flat pyramids. The V-profile mahogany neck has a volute on the back of the headstock and features a bound ebony fingerboard with simple shaped pearl inlay. The bound headstock is faced in rosewood with a single pearl inset, with fancy brass-plate tuners equipped with grained ivoroid buttons. The overall build quality is excellent; the top is ladder braced but fairly substantially and the guitar can handle silk-and-steel or even extra-light steel strings.
We'd guess this instrument was designed to be sold by one of the catalog companies of the day, and would have been a fairly expensive instrument at the time. This is an exceptionally nice if anonymous turn-of-the last century parlor guitar and is an excellent playing guitar still, with 100 or so years already behind it!
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). This guitar appears all original and unaltered despite its age, except for a more recent set of bridgepins. The 19th century style "piano" varnish finish has checked heavily over the entire instrument so the surface patina is dulled somewhat; apart from a few very minor dings and scrapes there are few other signs of use. Sounds excellent with silk & steel strings; one of the nicer guitars of this type we have seen recently. Includes both the original end-opening leather case (in partially intact but non-functional condition) and a modern hardshell. Overall Excellent Condition.
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This beautiful and fairly fancy parlor guitar is a bit of a mystery girl; there are no label, brand or serial number markings visible. The overall construction and many detail features are extremely close to certain models in Lyon & Healey's Washburn line around 1900-1910; we are quite certain this is a Chicago-made instrument. The only marking is a stamp "Stand." on the heelblock, and the guitar does conform to the early 20th Century "Standard' size as cataloged by L & H.
The guitar's body has many lovely features including a Brazilian rosewood back and sides, elaborate pearl bordering on the top and soundhole, multiple top and side wood purfling layers and an ebony bridge with floral pearl insets on the flat pyramids. The V-profile mahogany neck has a volute on the back of the headstock and features a bound ebony fingerboard with simple shaped pearl inlay. The bound headstock is faced in rosewood with a single pearl inset, with fancy brass-plate tuners equipped with grained ivoroid buttons. The overall build quality is excellent; the top is ladder braced but fairly substantially and the guitar can handle silk-and-steel or even extra-light steel strings.
We'd guess this instrument was designed to be sold by one of the catalog companies of the day, and would have been a fairly expensive instrument at the time. This is an exceptionally nice if anonymous turn-of-the last century parlor guitar and is an excellent playing guitar still, with 100 or so years already behind it!
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). This guitar appears all original and unaltered despite its age, except for a more recent set of bridgepins. The 19th century style "piano" varnish finish has checked heavily over the entire instrument so the surface patina is dulled somewhat; apart from a few very minor dings and scrapes there are few other signs of use. Sounds excellent with silk & steel strings; one of the nicer guitars of this type we have seen recently. Includes both the original end-opening leather case (in partially intact but non-functional condition) and a modern hardshell. Overall Excellent Condition.
