Joseph Bohmann 1891-1893 Mandolin with Original Canvas Case
Joseph Bohmann 1891-1893 Mandolin with Original Canvas Case
A very clean early 1890s Mandolin with the original canvas case. In excellent condition and the case is also clean. This was more of a normal production mandolin for Bohmann but still a very well made instrument.
The Mandolin features a Tuner Plate with an 1890 Patent date. The inside lable has the 417 State Street address so this would be early 1890s and we have guessed 1891 to 1893
The Bohmann label includes awards he won up to 1895. The list of awards goes up to 1900.
Paris 1889
Chicago 1893
Antwerp 1894
Atlanta 1895
Omaha 1898
Omaha 1899
Paris 1900
Joseph Bohmann is an American string instrument maker. He and his family immigrated from Prussia to Illinois around 1864.
He founded "Bohmann’s American Musical Industry" in Chicago around 1876 and soon became famous due to the quality of his Instruments. After winning multiple World Exposition awards from 1889 to 1900, Bohmann became an American Academy of instrument makers charter and committee member. He is also know as the father of the American Harp guitar and there are many examples of his harp guitars.
Besides being one of the first, if not the first, to build mandolins in America; Bohmann had many patents to his credit; and the guitars he built in the 1880's and after used strong internal bracing and could accommodate steel strings. In fact, strung with light gauge steel strings, the sound of his parlor guitars has been said to equal, and possibly surpass, the sound of the bigger Martins of the same era.Most examples of his 6 string flattops known today are of rather simple designs, but he did make some high-end and presentation guitars
There is not much history on what happened to Joseph Bowman and most of his instruments have not survived. This is a rare example and an exceptional instrument
- Mahogany neck
- Carved finial headstock with volute and ornate inlay design
- Brazilian rosewood fingerboard bound with ivory
- Original bar frets
- Special engraved brass tuning plate with engraved ivory buttons
- Brazilian Rosewood bridge
- Adirondack spruce top
- Bohmann steel engraved label in soundhole
- Ivory binding on the top
- Herringbone inlay on top
- Brass end plate
- Hand etched ivory tuning buttons
- Original french polish finish
- Overall length- 24 1/2"
- Neck length- 9"
- Fretboard width at nut- 1 1/16"
- Body length- 12"
- Width center 8 1/4"
- Depth 6 1/2"
- Soundhole diameter- 2" X 3"
- Scale length- 13 1/4"