If the 1925 catalog description that describes the top thicknesses as varying from 1/32" to 3/32" was accurate, the mandolins would likely have imploded before they ever reached concert pitch. Hand engraving by an expert in the craft is nothing like CNC engraving, it can be stunningly superb, but expensive and not practical for large numbers.īeware of construction figures given in sales literature. The other alternative is to shape it first and then get someone to hand engrave. I suspect that is how it was done originally, but would need to be done by someone who specializes in that sort of thing. Stamping seems to me to be the best approach, but getting a die made up is likely to be very expensive, but you could then make up hundreds or even thousands until the die wears out. I guess you could dome it after engraving, but metalwork is not my forte, so I have no idea how you would do it without damaging the engraving. I translate that to too much tricky work so would be very time consuming and expensive. I have showed it to some other silversmiths and they all passed. That does tend to suggest that it was stamped. I have just looked at one of my originals and the cover is domed, not just curved. The tailpiece covers work extremely well, they have a layer of felt on the underside which dampens the strings behind the bridge very effectively, so the tailpiece mechanism that Lyon and Healy patented is not necessary.įor what it's worth, I would rather have a flat tailpiece cover than none at all.Īgreed.
HOW OLD IS MY LYON AND HEALY HARP CODE
I do have a small CNC, but it is only good for inlays, it can't engrave brass, but I could use it to program the G code if only I had the time. I would like to be able to make them myself because they are expensive to get done and with a long lead time, but I need a CNC machine that can engrave brass, and the programming of the engraving is probably better done by an expert any way. He outsourced the engraving to a CNC shop and outsourced the plating as well. A silversmith made mine, and they fit onto a normal Gibson style of tailpiece base. Making them curved makes the CNC engraving more complicated because it then becomes 3D, and thus more difficult and more expensive. I can also get them plated with gold, chrome or black nickel. Mine are brass sheet engraved by a CNC machine, plated with nickel and are flat. The original tailpiece covers are curved, and I believe they were stamped. I've seen the vintage covers go for 300 USD.
Whoever made your tail piece could sell quite a few if they would fit properly.
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