Gibson Mandolin: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This mandolin was made by the Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1922.

It is an A-4 model, serial number 69625. This mandolin has a wooden body with 8 strings, inlaid design around sound hole and at top of neck. Design at top of neck reads "The Gibson" in mother of pearl. There is a metal plaque at top of neck that reads "L. Kramer." Metal plaque at base of strings reads "The Gibson."

This mandolin features U. S. Patent # 598245, dated February 1, 1898, by Orville H. Gibson for improvements in mandolins.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1922
• maker: Gibson Guitar Corp.
• Object Name: mandolin
• Physical Description: wood (overall material)
• Physical Description: mother of pearl (in lay material)
• Physical Description: metal (plaque material)
• Measurements: overall: 25 1/2 in x 10 in x 2 1/4 in; 64.77 cm x 25.4 cm x 5.715 cm
• place made: United States: Michigan, Kalamazoo
• ID Number: 2018.0098.01
• patent number: 598245
• catalog number: 2018.0098.01
• accession number: 2018.0098
• serial number: 69625
• Credit Line: Bequest of Louis H. Kramer, Jr.
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.