Levin 244 1901

Got a hard package delivered the day before Christmas Eve. A customer had announced that I would be looking for a heavy package… Cracked up and saw something that looked like a Levin pearl head. When I got the whole box up I got a shock! One of the oldest existing Levin instruments, moreover Levin's famous patent with a combined mandolin and guitar!

When the worst shock is released, I can announce that it is Levin 244 built in the summer of 1901. It has its problems. The worst is a failed "renovation" where cracks have been repaired but at the same time the paint has been smeared. Replaced stall on the guitar part can be fixed a replica, it is more difficult enough to find the string holder for the mandolin part. On the positive side, the necks are straight and the tuning screws are OK. Some pictures of the situation.

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Could not keep me but spent three hours dismantling the mandolin guitar.

It is a lightweight construction, bottom and cover 2.8 - 3 mm, side 2 mm. Definitely not covered! The biggest problem (as always) was the start but did not finish the renovation. The guitar neck was turned and also sat with two screws from the inside. Was fined by the one who did not appear through the sound hole. Got it loose in the end, although I get to work a little extra with the neck pocket that got hit when the glue was modern and sat more than it should. The grip board was cut at the 12th band, so you used to do when you did not know better and put neck around. Mandolin board and neck were pristine, very easy to get loose without any flaws.

The guitar neck is in al, the mandolin neck possibly in maple. There will be a carbon fiber rod in the guitar neck. The grip boards in fine brasse rosewood. The sawed board I will shine together in the joint so that it becomes as strong as before it was cut in two. Incidentally, the necks are very comfortable to stick with my favorite shape, a soft V.

It is noticeable that the guitar is not stored in the best way. The wood feels tired and brittle. All the bottom ribs were loose in half. Perhaps the smartest way to replace the ribs in the lid is replicated in new and tough wood as the lid is both thin and weak. The same pattern except that the maple stick under the stable across the lid is replaced with a fir rib for better sound. A plate under the bracket for the mandolin string holder must also be mounted. At least the two bottom ribs that are visible through the sound holes I leave original.

The tuning screws are all great. High quality and good condition. One of the toothed screws on one of the mandolin tuning screws has been replaced with a wooden screw (probably the original threaded up). Will see if I have a suitable threaded screw in the litter box.

The paint will be good, because it was ugly because you never completed the renovation. With scraping and trimming and a new layer of spirit varnish, it will look good.

The stable also sat properly but got loose. A little wood fiber came with the modern glue. Will fill with abrasive dust and super glue so that the surface is even. Uses an old Levin pyramid stall and makes a replica of it in rosewood.

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