“..
but I digress ..”
A
new series by – I.M Forreal
Treasure
Hunting - Episode 1
Treasure
hunting has been my life .. even though I didn’t realize it until
after I had actually found several great treasures …
Granddad A used to say .. “ if you want rabbits … then go where the
rabbits are ! “ … and I have come across many rabbits … by
looking in the right places ..
He was
himself a great treasure hunter, and in fact sparked my lifelong
interest in lost treasures and found riches ! He could see value in
everything, and treasures everywhere !
He
staked out some mine claims …in Panamint Valley (next door to Death
Valley) and sold several mining claims for talc and gypsum. He was a
gen-u-wine prospector … but knew his way around collectibles or an
antique or two ..
I can
recall being rapt when he told tales of the Lost Dutchman mine …
and old Spanish Gold Fleets lost in hurricanes … he taught me
geology basics .. and for many years I was an avid 'rock-hound' ..
collecting many geodes and fine gemstones ...but I digress …
I found
my own niche in rare stringed musical instruments. I have collected
and possessed some of the rarest .. we never really 'own' these
treasures .. just stewards to care for under our watch .. then pass
on for others to enjoy.
This
series will cover several great instruments that I have had over the
years .. all of special interest or note .. and worthy of museums …
although my personal sense is that great instruments need to be
played not just put in display cases .. or locked away – hidden
from use or enjoyment by others !
Great
instruments need to be played to keep the woods active, alive and
flexible. That’s why great acoustic instruments 'warm up' or
'loosen up' after being brought out of the case and played for 30
minutes or so .. it's almost like they shift into another gear.
I once
saw several Stradivarius violins on display beside each other in
London in 1971.. each cocooned in a glass box .. you could walk
around and see and marvel at the woods and workmanship .. but what
you really wanted was to HEAR them!!
The
museum did offer tape recordings of each .. you could listen to on
funky “old school” pilot style headphones – after pushing a
button .. alas, a cassette tape was poor consolation to the real in
the room magnificent sounds of the live actual instruments! ( pre
digital in 1970's).
I
attended a chamber music series in France when I attended University
there in the 70's ** .. and the small gatherings of 80-200 people
.. allowed me to talk to the players backstage after the concert ..
many with Stradivarius or other renowned instruments .. and was
pleasantly surprised at how I was urged to play a note or two on
those precious instruments .. thus I have actually held and struck a
few notes on several Stradivarius violins ..
I once
rode the train from LA to Tucson .. and sat next to a concert
violinist .. who was traveling .. with a Stradivarius and and Amati
and a Guarnieri .. !!! He let me play all 3 !!! .. I have so often
been in the right place at the right time !
The
first item up in this blog series is a magnificent 'attic' find ..
from an estate .. it is rare to find them so completely original ..
with the patina and condition virtually untouched from original
…albeit some funky old time repairs from the 1920's were done –
and whilst looking rough are actually quite sound. The condition is
playable, but some elements are fragile .. like the - 'tortoise
shell ' pick-guard inlayed into the top – which has shrunken into
several pieces and could easily knocked off .. but the mandolin sits
just as found.
It even
arrived in tune … in an ill fitting wooden case for an electric
mandolin .. *** I de - tuned it to remove tension on the top, and it
has been on display – but un-played ever since.
I
recently put this rare treasure on the market .. and here is the
updated synopsis I wrote for the next owner ..
* * *
Orville
Gibson's Work Shop circa 1903
(note the blond top mandolin on the workbench )
*
1903
Gibson “Artist” F Mandolin
The
story of this Gibson Artist 'Florentine' scroll mandolin, made in
1903
Probably the 324th
original instrument 'Hand Made' by Orville Gibson?
The Factory Order
Number (FON) is 324 !
This
came from an estate in New Mexico – I purchased it around 2005 ish
– 'as is'-- and it is still … just 'as found'! - I have
not even changed the strings .. it even arrived in tune ! A true
'Attic Find' ! The story I was told from the estate manager is as
follows...
The
owner – a woman - bought this new from a mandolin teacher - who
was also the Gibson representative at the time . This is early 1900's
.. she was infatuated with the teacher – and took up the mandolin
so she could be with him. They took lessons on the front porch so
they could be together – as was the proper way back in the day. She
was really in love !
She
bought it from him, and took lessons – and they eventually
married.
Apparently
she played it every day – in his memory – after he passed away
some years ago ! She played it, I'm told, right up until a few weeks
before her passing at the age of 103 !
The
fingerboard is well played .. all the way up to 'Florida' over the
sound hole !!
She
must have been quite a virtuoso... and it is a delightful love story
entwined with a wonderful and historic “all original” mandolin !
A rare 'barn find' for sure ! What we all dream of finding .. a
genuine treasure !
The
modern custom rectangle hard case was acquired separately a few years
later.
It had no original case.***
October
2021
*
* *
I have
many other tales of the rare and found .. and the almost caught .. it
has been a great adventure …
I tell you, nothing
beats the excitement of walking into an old obscure .. forgotten back
street pawn shop in the 1960's.. run by a cigar smoking old guy …
who says .. I have some old guitars in the back that never got
claimed after the war .. take a look and see if anything is of
interest ..!? … and brother was there ever !!!! .. watch for that
story coming soon...
I have
handled some of the most amazing stringed instruments .. which always
seem to find me !! ?!!?
I
finally had to stop going into old pawn shops .. too much great stuff
and never enough money ! .. the pieces that slipped away for lack of
$20 to put it on 'hold-layaway' .. oh my .. the stories ..
and yet
.. there are plenty of success stores to share .. and here is one
that is delightful .. fun .. proves that the great treasures and rarities can still be
found .. just by keeping an eye open .. and knowing what you are
looking at .. !
I have possessed some of the most iconic electric, and acoustic, stringed instruments sought
and known – coveted by many, possessed by few, used by even
fewer … man, it's a wonderful world !
The living room in 1969 – Berkeley, California
1939
D-45 .. 1941 and 1944 D-28's ..
1917 - Gibson F4 mandolin (sold to David Crosby as gift for Jerry Garcia)
1939
Dobro - 1930's ca. National
Fender Jaguar (bought used for $45 1969 – sold
for $60 in 1971)
2 Gibson - Teens/ 20's - A mandolins
SS Stewart Banjo Mandolin - (with all the battles of WW1 written on the head )
Watched the live upside down moon landing on that "ol' Philco" TV - July 1969 !
* * *
Footnotes
**
footnote : a university of Bordeaux sponsored series of private chamber concerts by famous
musicians and classical performers – such as I Solisti di Veneti
and others – with well known instruments – Stradivari –
Guarnieri – Amati .. etc
***
Footnote - the original cases for these were canvas or tooled
leather and had a flap opening on the end – these usually have the
stitching rot and ultimately the leather case disintegrates ..
intact original cases are super rare – and of course this
mandolin's original case suffered same fate and was lost decades ago
..
Gibson Acoustic Engineer Lloyd Loar holding a 3 point Artist model
He redesigned the mandolin and his signed F-5 Mandolin instruments made by
Gibson from 1921-24 command extraordinary prices today .. some north of
$ 260,000 - and Bill Monroe's in excess of $1 million
To be continued ... stay tuned ..
*
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