Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke

Subject: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: jeffp
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 01:08 PM

My wife's parents sent us an old ukelele that had belonged to her Aunt Ida. It's a beautiful instrument and appears to be very well made. I am trying to find out as much as I can about it.

Inside the body it says:

Lyon & Healy
Makers
Chicago USA

The number 7189 is stamped inside where the neck joins the body.

On the back of the headstock is imprinted the number 700 and below that is branded (appears to be burnt and embossed) Pat. Apld For, and below that, "Washburn."

Pat. Apld For also appears in very tiny letters on the bridge.

Lyon & Healy says that they sold everything but the harp business to CBS over 30 years ago and they have no information left. A quick look at CBS has so far turned up nothing, so I'm getting my Mudcat friends involved in the search.

I'll continue to pursue any avenues that occur to me, but I would greatly appreciate any help that anyone can give me.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 01:19 PM

Jeff - If I'm not mistaken L&H also made a lot of fine mandolins. It wouldn't suprise me if one of the mandolin players at www.mandolincafe.com might have some information or a website that might steer you in the right direction. And there's bound to be a uke site with a forum that could answer your question. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: jeffp
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 01:26 PM

Thanks, Wes.

I've already found that L&H started making ukes in the mid-1920s, according to Brudda Bu's Ukulele Heaven. I'll check out the Mandolin Cafe.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: jeffp
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 09:27 AM

An update: Someone at Mandolin Cafe sent me to Flea Market Music, a ukulele site where there is an expert on collectible ukes. I'll be sending him pictures and measurements to see what he can tell me. So far it appears to have been built sometime between the mid-20's and the mid-30's. I'll post what I find out.

Thanks again, Wes.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 11:28 AM

Here's an article from FRETS.COM that mentions Lyon & Healy and the Washburn subsidiary.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 11:56 AM

And compare yours to this one on eBay for the next six days or so.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Seeking Info on Lyon & Healy Uke
From: jeffp
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 12:41 PM

That one on Ebay is just about a dead ringer for mine. Cheap too!

I'm awfully tempted to see if I can get it cheap.

Thanks for the links, Mark.

Jeff