For sale is an original Gibson Style A mandolin in incredibly clean condition, dating from 1915 (made in Kalamazoo, USA).
Very, very well kept - especially so for an instrument that celebrated its 110th birthday this year. Atop of the original factory inner label, it also retains its original A. De. Vekey shop label - De Vekey was a Hungarian-born dealer living in the UK and anecdotally was the first individual to import Martin instruments to the UK. They ran a small shop in Bournemouth selling ukuleles and other small stringed instruments, so it's highly likely this mandolin was imported from new and has spent the entirety of its like in England.
Gibson's classic no-frills, oval hole style A mandolin model. Contemporary catalogues list the finish as 'Shaded', though it's a little-known fact that Gibson actually used violin varnish to finish these models. This resulted in a beautiful, warm hue that has beautifully aged to a gentle 'pumpkin' finish.
Carved solid Spruce top, maple rims/back and likely a Honduran Mahogany neck with a typical sharp 'V' profile.
The FON stamped at the base of the neck and serial both point to 1915 as the year of manufacture, concurrent with all present specs and stylings.
It is all original, save for the missing 'clamp' style pickguard, whose footprint is faintly visible to the body. There is evidence of this mandolin previously having been strung left handed, in the form of a pickguard 'pin' hole to the left side of the neck, explaining the lack of pickguard. The original, patent stamped fixed bridge as such also has a single hole on the bass side to fit the left handed pickguard. Thankfully nothing permanent was changed for this, the nut was left in place It is otherwise wholly unmodified, free of breaks or replaced parts and is simply remarkably clean for its age.
I have restrung it and it is playing superbly. Fantastic neck angle, original (tiny) frets in good condition, as is this beautifully dark ebony fingerboard. It retains its original, wholly functional tuners, bridge and tailpiece with removable 'The Gibson' pressed metal cover. Excellent neck angle, action and it is in both fantastic playing and cosmetic condition.
It retains its original Gibson (likely Geib-produced) purple-lined hard case, which is also in remarkable condition for its age with all latches / slider lock working perfectly.
A mandolin which is both a piece of Gibson history and fully-playable - in unparalleled condition, complete with its original hard case.