Mandolin labelled "Raffael Calace & Figlio / NAPOLI (Italia) / Anno 1938" also signed twice on the label. Length 64.0cm. In original fitted hard case. Model 309 "THE FASANO MODEL" Michele Fasano, from Naples, a pupil of Raffaele Calace, leader of the Selectra Plectrum Orchestra in London from 1930.
In very good original condition except for repaired carck in table beside fingerboard on bass side.
Price £2200.00
Instrument #486
References
"The Classical Mandolin" 1995 by Paul Sparks

Clifford Essex advertisement for Model 309. c.1935

Guitar, the ribs and back of solid maple, labelled “J.C.Mencke / maker 39 Gt East Street / Brighton Sussex / Aug 19th 1830" Overall length 94.2cm. Body length 45.8cm. The tuning machines stamped “RANCE”
Repaired cracks in table and ribs
Price £3500.00
Instrument #471

German guitar, labelled "C.A.Kruschwitz / in Hanover / Leinstrasse Nr 845" made c.1830. Overall length 91.0cm. Body length 42.7cm. In original veneered box.
In very good original condition.
Price £7000.00
Instrument #472

Guitar, the back of mahogany veneered with rosewood, the ribs of rosewood, labelled “D & A ROUDHLOFF / (FROM PARIS) / Manufacturers of Guitars / No 8 Charlotte Street Fitzroy Square / LONDON” also with a manuscript label stating this to be a “Melophonic Guitar” made c.1840. Length 96.5cm. Body length 47.8cm. String sounding length 63.5-63.8cm. The machines signed “V (crown) R” An interesting large (for the 1840s) bodied guitar with X bracing.
Repaired cracks in ribs.
Price £7500.00
Instrument #470

Mandolin with 16 strings, labelled "MANDO HARP / PATENTED BY / E.J.MULLINGER / PATENT NO.211390" made in England c.1925. Overall length 57.5cm. Patented in 1923.
Repaired cracks in table, otherwise in very good original condition with beautiful inlay work.
Price £2850.00
Instrument #468
References
English Patent No.211390 taken out by E.J.Mullinger in 1923.

Guitar batante,of exceptionally light weight construction, the body of cypress, made in Spain c.1800. Overall length 96.2cm. Body length 48.7cm. Max body width 29.0cm. Max body depth 8.0cm. Weight 720 grams. Guitars of this model from Spain are very rare.
In very good original condition.
Price £10000.00
Instrument #475

Contrabass banjo, signed on a plaque fixed to the back or the peg box “CLIFFORD ESSEX & SON LTD / 90 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE / PICADILLY CIRCUS LONDON W.1” Made between 1936 and 1942. Height 150.0cm head diameter 64.0cm.
In good original condition. With recently replaced skin
Price £3500.00
Instrument #477
References
Reference: “Ideal Instruments for Banjo or Mandolin Orchestra” showing a contra-bass banjo, from “Musical Instruments by Clifford Essex & Son” c.1927.

Russian guitar with seven strings, birds eye maple back and ribs, labelled in Russian, (State Musical Trust, Factory of small musical instruments, Moscow Kuznetski Perfulok 3), made c.1920. Length 91.0cm String sounding length 59.0cm. The neck adjustable.
In good original condition, showing some wear
Price £2250.00
Instrument #465

Guitar, the body of rosewood, branded on the head “(crown) / PATENT / T.HOWELL / INVENTOR / BRISTOL” also with two Howell labels, one inscribed 1839 in ink. Made c.1839. Length 93.4cm. Body length 41.0cm. String sounding length 61.0cm. Interesting internal construction with two longitudinal floating sound bars. Frets made of glass.
Repaired crack in table, revarnished.
Price £8750.00
Instrument #464
References
British Patent No.6964 taken out by Thomas Howell in 1835.
"Thomas Howell, Improvements to the Spanish Guitar" from "The Guitar in England 1820-1924" 1989 by Stewart Button.
Entry for Thomas Howell from "Saintsbury's "Dictionary of Musicians" 1824.
Photographs of internal strutting

Gelas model ukulele, signed on the table "Gelas" probably made by Jean Rowies or E.Gaudet in Paris c.1925. This double table model was invented by Lucian Gelas, a guitar player, in the early 20th century. Overall length 54.5cm. Body length 22.3cm.
In good original condition, two repaired cracks in the table, a scratch on the back.
Price £1600.00
Instrument #432
References
A very similar Gelas ukulele is in the Musée de la Musique in Paris #E.994.9.1

Guitar with ten strings, branded on the table “MICHELOT” and labelled “J.P.Michelot rue St Honore Pres / St Roch A la Melodie a Paris 1784(?)” Length 95.7cm. Body length 43.8cm. String length 66.7cm. This is an example of the “Guitare en bateau” invented by Michelot.
Repaired cracks in table and back. Old worm holes filled. Pegs not original.
Price £12000.00
Instrument #329
References
Entry for J.P.Michelot from "La Guitare, Paris 1650-1950" with photos of similar "guitare en bateau"

Tenor guitar with four strings, the head painted with flowers and leaves, no makers label, the basic guitar probably made in Germany in the early 20th century, the table inlays done afterwards by a different hand. Overall length 83.5cm. Body length 41.8cm. String sounding length 56.4cm.
One short repaired crack in the back, two soundbars beginning to push through the ribs, the back lifting off in a couple of places. The machines not original. Sold AS IS
Price £600.00
Instrument #72