Knutsen Harp Mandolin    

This is the second Knutsen harp mandolin found with the pointed flare on the lower bass bout. 

UPDATE! 3/15/05: I obtained a wonderful rare postcard featuring what I believe is this very harp mandolin specimen! 
As you know, virtually no two Knutsen instruments are exactly alike, no matter how close. I cannot find any differences between the present instrument and the original instrument shown in the photo. At higher resolution, I am able to double check binding, inlays, you-name-it.
And by another strange coincidence, this instrument (and player) ties into our story on Bert Amend & the One-Armed Musicians!

hm19compare.jpg (205894 bytes) hm19full.jpg (82785 bytes) hm19pg.jpg (33060 bytes) hm19headback.jpg (25330 bytes) hm19head.jpg (24375 bytes)
hm19back.jpg (24496 bytes) hm19b.jpg (31259 bytes)

Click on a picture to enlarge
(images of surviving instrument copyright Kerry Char, historical images copyright Gregg Miner)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HM19

                 Category

Harp Mandolins

                 Body Style

"Lower Bass Point"

                 Current or last known owner

Julia Hollenbeck

                 Year (approx)

1910-1914

                 Label

"C. Knutsen, Sole Patentee" in blue-bordered label

                 Label Code SE5

                 Courses / Strings

4 courses: 8 strings on neck

                 Scale length

unknown

Woods

Top

black

Back & Sides

mahogany

Neck

cedar

Fingerboard

dyed pearwood

Bridge

bone

Headstock veneer

mahogany

Binding, trim

Top

multi-colored rope

Back

ivoroid

Fingerboard

ivoroid

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole

multi-colored rope

                 Inlay

fancy pearl fret markers

                 Pickguard

black plastic with 3 pearl inlays

                 Comments

 

 

To Mandolins

Home

To Next Instrument

[Biographical] [Instruments] [Historical Photos]
[
Credits] [FAQ] [Bibliography] [Updates] [Links] [Contact]
[
Home (Knutsen Archives)] [Home (Harpguitars.net)

All Site Contents Copyright © Gregg Miner, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,2006. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright and Fair Use of material and use of images: See Copyright and Fair Use policy.