Joseph Bohmann 1895 Mandola with Custom Hardshell Case

An exqusit Mandola made by Joseph Bohmann of Chicago.  A very rare piece made of exceptional materials.  Most of Bohmann's mandolins with less expensive instruments running $3-$20 and were available in the Sear's catalog. This piece came from the family and features Srpuce top, Brazilian Rose back, elaborate etched abalone and mother of pearl fret board pieces, a brass patent tuner place, hand engraved ivory tuner buttons and an elaborate binding of mother of pearl and abalone.  The Mandola comes with a custom Cedar Creek hardshell case.  There is one top crack but this piece is otherwise in excellent condition.

The Mandola features a Tuner Plate with an 1890 Patent date.  The inside lable is the large size with only the 1889 medal listed.  The address listed is 178 Wabash Ave. which is later than the 306 State Street facotry that burned in 1895.  The next official address was 376 W Madison St. and appears on labels in 1896.  We are assuming the Mandola is from 1895 based on these details.

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

- Overall length- 29"
- Neck length- 11 1/4"
- Fretboard width at nut- 1 1/2"
- Body length- 15"
- Width center 10 1/4"
- Depth 6 1/2"
- Soundhole diameter- 2" X 3"
- Scale length- 17 1/4"