The identity of the true maker is often impossible to trace, but here are a few of the most commonly seen stencils and their true identity. It has had a few repairs over the hears, notably re-glued back braces and a new Rosewood bridge. Things aren’t always what they seem Many times an instrument stamped with one name was actually made by another manufacturer. This Lyon & Healy Washburn Oak – interesting little guitar plays well, and has a warm tone with clear trebles. It’s relatively heavy and hard to work with in the context of bending sides. Oak is a common material for many purposes, but it is unusual to find it on the back and sides of a guitar. The heavily V shaped neck with slotted peghead is likely Poplar, while the fingerboard is a dyed, hard and tight grained wood like Maple. It features a ladder-braced Spruce top and Oak for the sides and back. This Lyon & Healy Washburn Oak parlor guitar, built in Chicago in the 1920s, is an example of the instruments available at that time. However, the guitar plays well.Around the start of the twentieth century, Lyon & Healy were one of the larger musical instrument builders in the USA, with Washburn being one of their brands. In the past, it appears to have been strung with heavier strings and consequently there is dip in the top around the sound hole and a tilt to the bridge. The guitar is strung with nylon/classical low tension strings (the guitar was designed for gut) with the action set at about 8/64". There are several short cracks in the sides that have been repaired. There are several repaired top cracks, all cleated. Overall, the guitar has an attractive appearance. The bridge pins, end pin and tuners appear original. The fingerboard is Brazilian, bound in white celluloid and sports three engraved position markers. The neck is cedar and shaped into a soft 'V'. The back is inlaid with a colorful strip. The sound hole is inlaid with herringbone and colored rings. The top and back are bound in white celluloid and dark/light wood. The back and sides are choice, straight-grained Brazilian rosewood. The neck measures 1 13/16" at the nut, and string spacing 2 3/16" across at the saddle. This guitar, serial 140926, was made by Lyon & Healy of Chicago, Illinois around 1900-1905. It is the popular style is a great favorite as a lady's instrument. This guitar is somewhat larger than the usual Ladies' size, but of beautiful proportions and a very elegant model. The numeral 1 in the style number represents the size, standard size.
Lyon healy guitar serial numbers serial number#
The serial number places the guitar at around 1897. Both the style number and serial number are stamped on the headstock. The Washburn line presented a dizzying array of models this example is a Style 123. The quality of workmanship and materials appears second to none. Regardless of how many were made annually, a quick look at one of their instruments shows a well made guitar, on par with a Martin.
Lyon healy guitar serial numbers serial numbers#
The claim was 100,000 instruments made annually! Pleijsier, in his book on Washburn prewar instruments, states that a close examination of the serial numbers of the era could support the makers claim! In fact, the company claimed to be the largest manufacturer and importer of musical instruments in the world. Washburn guitars, manufactured by Lyon & Healy in Chicago, were marketed aggressively in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.