“Washburn guitars, zithers & mandolins manufactured by Lyon & Healy, Chicago Best in the World” ad, 1899īy the 1920s, Lyon & Healy faced growing competition from other instrument manufacturers as well as from the rise of other forms of entertainment, particularly film and the gramophone.
It bridged the gap between smaller-bodied "parlor" guitars of the late 19th and early 20th century and modern-day dreadnought and jumbo acoustic guitars. In 1912, Washburn introduced the Lakeside Jumbo guitar, which some consider the first dreadnought-sized guitar. As well, they built instruments for other retailers and distributors under various house brands, and outsourced construction of some models. Not only did the Lyon & Healy company often change designs to follow the rapidly evolving consumer demand, but the company also repaired instruments, and offered engraving services, including decorating instruments that it retailed but did not actually manufacture. Tracing the history of any particular instrument of this period presents many obstacles. Lyon & Healy 1898 catalog listed 28 different styles of "Washburn" guitars, ranging from $15 to $145.
Under the "George Washburn" brand, which was Lyon's first and middle name. The company achieved independence by 1880, and around 1888 the company launched fully into fretted and plucked instruments ( guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and zithers) By 1865, Lyon & Healy had expanded into reed organs and some small instruments. Healy, acting as the Chicago outlet for Boston sheet music publisher Oliver Ditson and Company. Lyon & Healy began in 1864 as a partnership of businessmen George W.
Right: archtop guitar model 5250 (1928), Museum of Making Music.
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