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Selection of "Restoration to be Completed" Vintage Harmony Stella Mandolins - fully restored prices indicated below or available on request - meantime, photos show the c.1969 "Teaburst" version (VTG1511) and one of the 1950s versions (VTG1479), both before start of restoration....the other 1950s example is the same as the latter, but with Cream-buttoned tuners.

A Full Set of Details of each of the Mandolins listed can be provided on request, but I have felt for some time that I needed to rationalise the amount of information confronting folks....hope it works for enquirers!
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Over the last several years now I have sold dozens of Harmony made Stella guitars, amongst many other vintage USA made guitars, but the Harmony Stellas have been the specialisation. They have ranged right through from 1940, when Harmony acquired the Stella name, right through to 1975, when Harmony ceased manufacture in Chicago.....Mainly 6 strings, but 12 strings whenever I could get decent ones, and likewise my other particular favourites the 4 string Tenors.

So now we have the Harmony & Stella Mandolins I have collected along the way! Don't see them very often over here, but I've now built up a little stock of 5, in as near mint condition as you will get, for instruments of this age & type! The three Stella models are described here....the two Harmony archtop & f-hole style models are on a separate page.

No Mandolin you can buy new now will come with the vintage character of an All Solid Birch made Stella, which you can buy, in such exceptionally good condition, for a price the equivalent to the cost of a new standard Eastman or Goldtone. Similarly the all solid Monterey archtop/f-hole type models, one all Birch, the other Spruce top, Birch back/sides, listed separately.

I regularly "pre-sell" my guitars, at the stage where I am still working on them, or even before starting, so I list some, not all, of the guitars waiting to come through the workshop, and welcome further enquiries, if you don't see what you are looking for.

Stock Numbers: VTG1478, VTG1479 & VTG1511.

These are exceptionally tidy vintage Stella Mandolins. The internal ink model number stamp is clearly visible on two of them, but the usual corresponding date stamps cannot be seen. Knowing that Harmony produced these Mandolins until at least 1970, and that on their guitars they only started to fit tuner bushings in around 1969, I'm assuming that the later "Teaburst" finish one dates from around that year.

Blue Book extract:-

Model H331 - pear-shaped "Stella Lute-style" body, grained birch top, back, and sides, oval soundhole with white ring rosette, white binding, four-per-side tuners, white pickguard, decorative tailpiece, Red-stained Mahogany finish, mfg. late 1930s-early 1970s.

.....clearly the "Blue Book" had not logged that for most of it's life the majority of examples of the H331 model had the traditional dark "Tiger Stripe" Harmony Stella finish, and I assume that "Red-stained Mahogany finish" now translates as "Teaburst", which I think gives it a real classic look!

Judging by the style of the Stella headstock name logo, I believe that the two earlier versions, bearing the darker livery, I did believe that both would date from the 1950s. (Not wrong, but see further dating information in the individual descriptions on pages VTG 8F & VTG 8G.)

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*** DIMENSIONS ***
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Overall length - 24"/61cm., body width lower bout - 9.5"/24.1cm., body length - 11.75"/29.8cm., body depth front - 2"/5.1cm., rear - 2.65"/6.75cm., nut width of 1 3/16"/1.19"/30mm. - and a 13"/330mm. scale.
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The condition of these 50+ year old Mandolins is really exceptionally good....minor good honest wear....plus the odd small mark that there is is very minor indeed! However, as I always do, I have will be checking them over in conjunction with the professional luthier (and highly regarded builder of both guitars & mandolins), and all restoration work needed will be done, much of it in his workshop, but under his supervision throughout.

However, the later "Teaburst" (VTG1511) version was inspected, cleared as having no issues with at all, and has now been sold....see page VTG 8E!

Indeed, it appears that it has hardly been played at since new....no play wear to the original brass frets, or the dyed Maple fingerboard. The original ebonised floating bridge is like new, as are the four-a-side Waverly pattern Harmony tuners, and chromed Clamshell tailpiece, with integral scalloped cover.

The photos included both finish colours, and the two older examples with the traditional Harmony Stella darker finish, have the same fittings, in good shape also....for more details see pages VTG 8F & VTG 8G.

On the c.1969 "Teaburst" version, the action at the 12th. fret is close to 2mm., and all three mandolins will be adjusted for correct set-up, and set of new strings fitted. There are no original cases with these mandolins, but I may be able to locate an original, period correct, pressed board type case, or possibly a Hiscox hard Mandolin case additionally.