1920s Washburn/Lyon & Healy Bell-Shaped Ukulele w/ Original Hard Case. Soprano.

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1920s Washburn/Lyon & Healy Bell-Shaped Ukulele w/ Original Hard Case. Soprano.:
$875.00

Travel back in time with this vintage soprano ukulele. Yes, it is the famous Lyon & Healy bell uke. Stamped Washburn on the back of the headstock, along with the serial number 5325 (can anyone translate that serial number for me?), and Patent Applied For. The Lyon & Healy stamp is on the inside back. This is a player uke, not a museum piece. It has been much played and is fair, but playable, condition. There is wear all over the edges of the headstock, especially the edges. The neck has been reset (prior to me), but the angle is correct. There is glue squeeze-out at the neck heel. There were two long cracks in the back; I had my repair guy (the masterful Mr. Russell Shaw of Yellow Springs, Ohio) glue the cracks and put four cleats on the inside of each crack to stabilize the back. There was also a crack on the lower side of the top, next to the bridge. That crack too has been glued and cleated. The 12th fret was missing when I got it. Russell put in a new fret there that is a decent, but not perfect, match. There is general wear all over the top, sides and back. The four bridge pins are replacement pins, made of ebony. The top and back both have good binding. All that said, it sounds fabulous. Just crisp and tight. It comes with the lovely original bell-shaped case (try finding another one of those!) that just as cute as the dickens. As you know, these are famous ukes. In excellent condition, they sell for, what, something like $2,000. If you offer on this one, you\'ll be getting one that you won\'t be afraid to take out and play. It came from the John McCardle Collection. McCardle is a noted instrument collector in Indianapolis, Indiana, who recently liquidated his fine and vast collection. A General Motor public relations man by trade, McCardle was an avid collector and clarinetist, playing in Indianapolis polka and ragtime bands, and even consulting with the Smithsonian Institute on antique clarinets. The bulk of his collection was brass and woodwinds, with a few stray string instruments. This is one of said stray string instruments. I asked John where he got this uke from. His response, \"I don\'t remember.\" Please check out the pictures, I think they\'re pretty accurate. I absolutely love this uke. There is a reasonable, and realistic, reserve on the sale; it should sell this week. It will be well-wrapped in new 1/2\" bubble wrap for shipping. Questions? Please check out my store, the 1970 Time Travel Trailer, for more cool vintage stuff, including a bunch of vintage instruments, especially guitars, mandolins, ukes, and banjos.